On 9 December 2025, Alzheimer Europe launched the Dementia in Europe Yearbook 2025, which highlights programmes and resources relating to transport and access to cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport. These topics are vital components in the lives of people with dementia and their carers, which help them to stay actively engaged in the communities in which they live.
The report examines the overarching European and International accords which set out the rights of people with disabilities (including people with dementia), identifying the relevant provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights (CFR), the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the European Pillar of Social Rights. The subsequent sections examine, in detail, how each European country addresses the topics, through policies, programmes and schemes.
In relation to transport, most initiatives reported (such as concession schemes, sunflower lanyard, etc.) were part of broader initiatives aimed at older people or persons with disabilities, without specific reference to dementia. Whilst some countries ran focused awareness-raising campaigns on dementia, or training for staff to inform them of how best to support people with dementia, this was not the case in the majority of countries.
In relation to programmes for including people with dementia and their carers in cultural life, leisure, recreation and sport, there were dozens of examples across Europe, from adapted museum tours and cultural performances, through to inclusive arts, exercise and sports classes, specifically designed with consideration of the needs of people with dementia. A notable feature of these initiatives was their predominantly local nature, with our national members associations often working in partnership with cultural and sporting organisations to ensure that their services were accessible for people with dementia.
However, the report found that many types of support and schemes, including concessionary travel, disability cards and parking cards, are still subject to eligibility criteria which often do not regard dementia as a disability or fail to consider the cognitive and progressive nature of the condition. As such, people with dementia are often excluded until their symptoms have progressed to a point where they have impaired mobility.
Alzheimer Europe was pleased to be able to include the views and experiences of members of the European Working Group of People with Dementia (EWGPWD) and the European Dementia Carers Working Group (EDCWG). It became apparent that the training of staff, particularly in transport settings, was fundamentally important in ensuring a positive experience when travelling. Furthermore, there was frustration from both working groups that eligibility criteria often did not account for many of the symptoms of dementia and instead focused purely on physical or mobility issues.
Commenting on the publication of the report, Alzheimer Europe’s Executive Director, Jean Georges, stated:
“Alzheimer Europe chose to focus part of its 2025 Yearbook on transport, following feedback from the European Working Group of People with Dementia and the European Dementia Carers Working Group, informing us that the availability and accessibility of transport was a vital part of their day-to-day lives. Additionally, from our previous work on dementia-inclusive communities and independent living, we knew there was much work taking place to support people with dementia to remain active in their communities and we wanted to explore this further, through the examination of access to cultural activities, leisure, recreation and sport.
It is perhaps unsurprising that many initiatives relating to transport, such as concessionary schemes, are aimed at a broader cross-section of the population, including older people or people with disabilities. However, given the feedback from both Working Groups about the interactions with staff making a significant difference to a person’s experience when travelling, we had hoped that we might have seen more examples of training and awareness for staff working for transport companies.
We were pleased to see so many initiatives in the domains of cultural life, recreation, leisure and sports, in countries across Europe, with many examples of venues and companies providing dedicated offers for people with dementia, to encourage their participation. It is to the credit of our national member associations, that there were many examples where they had built partnerships with other organisations to develop programmes and projects. It is also notable that whilst we often look for national impetus on issues relating to dementia, a considerable number of examples come from local and regional initiatives.
We were disappointed to see that many examples of supports that could improve the lives of people with dementia, such as concession schemes or disability and parking cards, are subject to rigid eligibility criteria which often excludes them, particularly where disability criteria are tiered and primarily focused on mobility issues or physical impairment. The variation in eligibility criteria was marked, not only between but also within countries. Whilst welcoming the potential benefits offered by the standardised EU Disability Card and EU Parking Card for Persons with Disabilities, the underlying problems with eligibility criteria remain. As such, we call on national governments to abide by their commitments to the UNCRPD, recognising dementia as a disability and adopting assessments and eligibility criteria which take into account the cognitive and sensory challenges of dementia.
There is evidently much work to be done in these areas – a concerted effort is needed across all levels of governments, from an EU level down to local communities, to ensure that transport is accessible and affordable for people with dementia and their carers. Additionally, there should be a continued push to ensure that cultural, recreational, leisure and sports offers are inclusive of people with dementia and their carers, regardless of where they live.”
The full report can be accessed on the website of Alzheimer Europe at: https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/sites/default/files/2025-12/dementia_in_europe_yearbook_2025_-_final.pdf