EU-Atlas: Dementia & Migration

For people with a migration background who are affected by dementia, access to medical information, medical care and care services can prove difficult due to language barriers and cultural differences to the native population: This is because culturally sensitive medical and nursing care as well as multilingual information materials have not yet become standard - neither in Germany nor in many other parts of Europe. However, the way the topic of "dementia and migration" is dealt with varies greatly from country to country. Researchers at the DZNE have examined the situation in 35 European countries as part of a research project funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung. The result is the "EU Atlas: Dementia & Migration", which breaks down the situation with extensive data and maps - and presents country-specific experiences, challenges and also examples of good practice.

Currently, 86.7 million people with a migration background (PwM) live in Europe. Out of which 16.2% are 65 years or older (approximately 14 million)¹ and are thus in an age group with an increased risk of developing dementia. Furthermore, scientific studies suggest that PwM have a higher risk of dementia than people without a migration background^2,3. An analysis from 2019 estimates the number of PwM with dementia in the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states to be about 475,000⁴. Our survey for the EU Atlas yielded slightly higher numbers, leading to an estimate of approximate 531,400 PwM with dementia.

The health consequences of dementia are often worse for PwM than for people from the autochthounus population. One of the reasons is that the healthcare system is often not equipped to take care of this population and does not have healthcare services appropriate for their needs. Simultaneously, there is often a lack of knowledge about dementia, the healthcare system, and its care services on the side of PwM⁵. These and other problems, as well as the expected increase in the number of PwM with dementia in the coming years pose a challenge of an unknown magnitude for healthcare systems in Europe. To face this challenge and to provide people affected with the best support and information possible, healthcare systems, healthcare professionals, politicians, and stakeholders need more information on this vulnerable population. Evidence is needed on the number of PwM with dementia, how they are included in the healthcare systems at the moment, and where room for improvement exists. Such insights can not only guide people and organisations working with people on a daily basis, but also and equally important can be of significance in strategically developing healthcare systems and its services on a political level in laws, policies, strategies, and action plans. The "EU Atlas: Dementia and Migration" is especially intended to be used for the latter.