Malta

Introduction

The National Dementia Strategy for the Maltese Islands 2024 – 2031, titled ‘Reaching New Heights’, was launched on on 21 February 2024, building on the first national strategy, which ran between 2015 and 2023. A review of the objectives implemented was carried out and new evidence-based practices were sought, with this assessment informing action areas for the new strategy.

Outline of strategy

The plan spans the period of the next seven years, setting out a vision for how people with dementia may live as well as possible, and the necessary societal, policy, and service adjustments needed to facilitate this. The policy document identifies priority areas that will help people with the condition and those who help them advance through dementia. The objectives to be achieved through the action areas include:

  • Increasing awareness and understanding of dementia by improving inclusivity and accessibility in community settings that maximise the opportunities for health, involvement, and security for everyone
  • Reducing the risk of developing dementia by taking precautionary measures, such as increasing physical activity, preventing and reducing obesity, promoting balanced and healthy diets, quitting smoking and alcohol use, encouraging social engagement, promoting cognitively stimulating activities, preventing and managing diabetes, hypertension, and depression
  • Obtaining an early diagnosis to enable individuals to make advance care and legal planning while they are still able to make important decisions
  • Instilling a positive approach and empowerment, focused on helping persons with dementia and their families to live well with the condition
  • Improving education and training to develop a dementia-capable workforce with skills to deliver high-quality services and support
  • Strengthening seamless integrated person-centred care across all settings
  • Advancing towards better dementia prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care by implementing dementia research.

Further information

The current and former strategies can be downloaded below.