The Government intends to implement a long-term health programme offering care for seniors living with dementia.

Speaking in the House of Assembly on Friday, Tinée Furbert, the youth, social development and seniors minister, said that a pilot programme launched in October 2023 by a private company had exposed shortfalls in the care for dementia patients.

Ms Furbert said its findings would form the core of future policy for care.

The pilot programme — involving 111 of the island’s 3,400 dementia patients — revealed that many were not getting formally diagnosed, and that a lack of funding was burdening support services and caregivers.

Ms Furbert told MPs: “This programme was developed based on evidence-based research that recognises the vital importance and role of dementia care management to not only improve quality of life for persons with dementia, but also their carers, which in turn decreases more costly care caused by hospital admission or crisis management.

“Northstar Dementia was selected, not only because they specialised in this area but also because their service model supplements the pilot programme to expand its reach and depth of support.”

Ms Furbert said that her ministry was now working with the Bermuda Health Council to develop an integrated care pathway for dementia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

She said the programme was “mapping current patient journeys and identifying system and service gaps and needs”, with a preferred care pathway and an action plan to be developed.

Ms Furbert said Northstar’s findings revealed a funding gap for dementia navigation and support services.

Although 95 per cent of clients in the pilot programme were insured, 84 per cent of all referrals could not contribute to the full cost, including co-pay.

At the start of the programme, almost half of clients stated they did not have a formal diagnosis, with the figure dropping to 23 per cent after they took part.

The programme, at a total cost of $96,000, also reduced the stress on caregivers, with 73 per cent saying that they felt either significantly or somewhat less stressed.

Ms Furbert said the programme highlighted the importance of getting a formal diagnosis, enabling people to put their affairs in order, determine what supports would be needed and get critical legal documents and financial resources in place.

She said the programme outlined how those with dementia could start interventions and finding supports sooner rather than later, through medications or programmes that help decrease the impact of the cognitive decline.

Ms Furbert added that all the clients evaluated stated that the pilot programme should continue.

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• To read the minister’s statement in full, see Related Media