Protecting Older Adults: Designing Right-Based Dementia Policies that Address Cultural Stigma, Social Exclusion, Safeguarding, and Person-Centered Care in Africa

The number of dementia cases in Africa is increasing rapidly, with a notable increase of about 300% over just a few decades. This increase aligns with the growth in the number of older people, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, especially on the African continent. But that's not all. The increase in dementia cases in Africa has also been linked to modifiable lifestyle risks such as poor nutrition, sedentary lifestyle, and smoking, as well as the burden of infections in Africa. Despite the increased incidence and prevalence of dementia in Africa over the past years, many Africans do not understand the scope of dementia as a neurological disease condition. This is evidence in the stigmatization and exclusion of people, particularly older adults, living with dementia in many African communities. These negative practices are usually rooted in cultural and traditional beliefs and in extreme cases, can manifest as neglect, abuse, and persistent infringement on the human rights of people living with dementia. This study will examine the role of human rights-based policies on dementia and the components required in their design to address stigma and exclusion in African communities and to promote safeguarding mechanisms and person-centered care, thereby achieving the goal of protecting individuals living with dementia in Africa. With global human rights principles, medical ethics, and African sociocultural contexts as foundations, this article contends the key features of effective dementia policies, the core strategies in their implementation, in tandem with cultural responsiveness, and their overall implication in ensuring a good quality of life for older adults living with dementia.