PolicyWISE Report call for Coordinated Approach to Dementia Across the UK and Ireland

PolicyWISE has released a new Wise in 5 briefing examining governmental strategies to dementia across the UK and Ireland, revealing significant differences in national approaches at a time when the number of people living with dementia continues to rise sharply. With more than 900,000 people affected in the UK, and projections suggesting this will reach 1.4 million by 2040,the report underscores the urgent need for coordinated, cross-nation policy development. 

The snapshot analysis compares strategy development, diagnosis pathways, support for carers, and investment in prevention and research across the five nations. Initiatives such as Scotland’s rights-based approach, Wales’ dementia-friendly national vision, Northern Ireland’s ongoing review of ageing policy, and the Republic of Ireland’s community-focused care model showcase a patchwork of innovations. The briefing also notes that England is now the only nation without a dedicated dementia action plan, having instead integrated dementia into a broader major conditions strategy.

This briefing argues that greater collaboration between governments could accelerate improvements in care quality, awareness, and stigma reduction.

The publication also highlights opportunities for policymakers to draw on lived experience, research from The Open University, and international frameworks such as the Global Dementia Observatory. With dementia-related care costs expected to almost triple by 2040, the briefing calls for renewed focus on comparative research and joint action to build resilient, person-centred systems of support across the UK and Ireland.