Samvedna Care, Gurugram, India.
Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College, Dublin.
Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2024 Sep 1;37(5):370-375. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000944. Epub 2024 May 7.
India is facing a significant increase in the aging population who are at risk for dementia. This review evaluates recent literature on community-based care, focusing on caregiver experiences, challenges and policy initiatives.
Dementia care in India is traditionally provided by family members who take on the role of caregivers. Studies on caregiver experiences have reflected high caregiving burden and related impact on their mental health. During the pandemic, caregivers experienced several unprecedented challenges in providing care, emphasizing the need for more research on community-based dementia care across the country. Telehealth and online caregiver training were identified as viable alternatives to support community dementia care. However, it may not be a feasible mode of delivery suitable across the Indian context, underscoring the need for culturally relevant and acceptable interventions. India is currently undertaking concerted policy efforts for dementia care through multiple initiatives like the National Program for Healthcare of the Elderly, the Mental Healthcare Act, and initiatives like the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojna. These initiatives aim to address the healthcare requirements of the elderly; nevertheless, a comprehensive evaluation of their impact is yet to be discerned.
There is a need for comprehensive research, to inform evidence-based policy and improve dementia care systems in India. Addressing gaps in existing dementia care capacities and healthcare initiatives, along with tailoring interventions to India's diverse contexts are critical for effective community care for dementia.
印度正面临着人口老龄化的巨大挑战，这些老年人面临着痴呆症的风险。本次综述评估了近期关于社区为基础的护理的文献，重点关注照顾者的经验、挑战和政策举措。
印度传统上由家庭成员为痴呆症患者提供护理，这些家庭成员承担着照顾者的角色。关于照顾者经验的研究反映出他们的照护负担沉重，对他们的心理健康产生了相关影响。在疫情期间，照顾者在提供护理方面面临着前所未有的挑战，这强调了需要在全国范围内对社区为基础的痴呆症护理进行更多的研究。远程医疗和在线照顾者培训被确定为支持社区痴呆症护理的可行替代方案。然而，它可能不是适合印度国情的可行的交付模式，这凸显了需要制定文化上相关且可接受的干预措施。印度目前正在通过多项举措，如国家老年人医疗保健计划、精神卫生保健法案以及阿塔尔·瓦约·阿布亚德·约伊纳等计划，为痴呆症护理进行协调一致的政策努力。这些举措旨在满足老年人的医疗保健需求；然而，它们的影响仍有待全面评估。
印度需要进行全面的研究，为循证政策提供信息，并改善印度的痴呆症护理系统。解决现有痴呆症护理能力和医疗保健举措中的差距，并根据印度的多样化情况定制干预措施，对于提供有效的社区痴呆症护理至关重要。
