In June, about 50 organisations submitted a new version of the Dementia Care Standard to the National Health Care Institute in the Netherlands. This version is intended to inform policymakers, health insurers and staff in the care and welfare sectors about what is needed to provide effective support to people with dementia and their loved ones throughout the entire course of the disease. So, what does the Dementia Care Standard 2026 mean for people with dementia and their loved ones?
Care standards exist for many conditions. These describe, from the patient’s perspective, the (minimum) requirements that high-quality care for a specific condition must meet. Alzheimer Nederland has produced a dementia friendly version meant for people with dementia and their informal carers. It is called “Living well with dementia: what you need to know and what you can expect”.
It explains what support and care people can expect, and what they can do themselves. It’s not just about medical care; it’s also about daily life, so that people can continue to participate in society as much as possible. It looks at what aids can help people living with dementia to carry on doing what matters to them for as long as possible. A large group of people with dementia and their loved ones reviewed the draft texts and contributed ideas to the discussion chart illustrating “the journey through dementia” and its corresponding stages. The illustrations from the discussion chart are also featured in the text. The discussion chart not only makes things visual but can also help facilitate conversations, making it a practical tool.
A new feature is the focus on people with early-onset dementia, people from migrant backgrounds and those who struggle with reading and writing. Relatives are also mentioned as a separate group with their own support needs.
The National Health Care Institute is assessing the updated Dementia Care Standard and during the month of September, they advised the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport about the way the new standard will be implemented.
