Building capacity for dementia care in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have limited facilities and professionals trained to diagnose, treat, and support people with dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment. The situation for people with dementia is poor, and worsening as the proportion of elderly in the general population is rapidly expanding. We reviewed existing initiatives and provided examples of actions taken to build capacity and improve the effectiveness of individuals, organizations, and national systems that provide treatment and support for people with dementia and their caregivers. Regional barriers to capacity building and the importance of public engagement are highlighted. Existing programs need to disseminate their objectives, accomplishments, limitations, and overall lessons learned in order to gain greater recognition of the need for capacity-building programs.
Fundación Alzheimer de Venezuela, Nueva Esparta Chapter, Porlamar, Venezuela.
Francisco J
FJ
Gonzalez
Fundación Alzheimer de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela ; Neurosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Ciro
C
Gaona
Neurosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Marialcira
M
Quintero
Neurosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Carlos A
CA
Chavez
Fundación Alzheimer de Venezuela, Nueva Esparta Chapter, Porlamar, Venezuela.
Joyce
J
Selga
Neurosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela ; Dept. Psychiatry, Neurology and G.H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Gladys E
GE
Maestre
Alzheimer's disease; capacity building; community; dementia; health care; health programs; skills