New practices and strategies are helping senior living communities improve the everyday lives of residents living with dementia and their caregivers, according to a new report from Sodexo that aims to raise awareness about emerging research on dementia prevention and care.
The food services and facilities management company’s new report, “Re-thinking dementia: from novel prevention strategies to better models of care,” highlights a collection of conversations with seven gerontologic experts within dementia-related fields. Each expert proposed unique practices and supports, from pre-diagnosis and early-stage intervention strategies to approaches to help improve the quality of aging, dementia and memory care.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, approximately 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. In 2024, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia will cost the nation $360 billion, a figure expected to increase to almost $1 trillion by 2050. Forty-two percent of assisted living residents have a dementia diagnosis, according to the federal government.
Some statistics in the report include the fact that someone in the world develops dementia every three seconds, and fewer than 1% of registered nurses, physicians, physician assistants and pharmacists specialize in geriatrics.
The report noted a “surprising wealth of misinformation” surrounding dementia, including the fact that almost 62% of healthcare practitioners worldwide believe that dementia is a normal part of aging.
Calling dementia a “crucial public health issue” that will evolve over the next 20 years, Sodexo’s report laid out novel approaches to dementia prevention and care to encourage “conscious of the enormous difference that everyday actions can make in the face of such looming issues.”
In the area of pre-diagnosis and early stage intervention, the report touches on implementing proactive lifestyle changes to mitigate dementia risk. Those include a holistic approach to prevention in the form of diet, exercise, and cognitive and social interactions.
For those already living with dementia, the report focuses on approaches to improving the quality of aging, dementia and memory care services. Those involve boosting brain health, promoting dementia awareness through training and research, expanding access to affordable housing and care models, and designing systems and environments to strengthen social capital and resilience.
Sodexo noted that much of the research gathered in the report points toward opportunities for “joy and meaningful connection, even while living with dementia.” The company said that it is dedicated to prioritizing holistic models of care that value people affected by dementia.
