Direction of the national dementia strategy in the context of the establishment of a community-based integrated care system:Early diagnosis and intervention

Shuichi Awata

Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare released the Direction of the National Dementia Strategy on 18^th June 2012 and the Five Year's Plan for Promoting Dementia Strategy (Orange Plan) in 5^th on September 2012. These are regarded as the national plan for establishment of community-based integrated care systems supporting the lives of people with dementia and their families at this stage. In the context of community-based integrated care systems, it is especially important to establish the early diagnosis and intervention system through addressing prejudice against dementia among general population, strengthening the function of the Community-based Integrated Support Centers, promoting the capacity of Primary Care Physicians, placing adequate number of the Medical Centers for Dementia and/or comprehensive memory clinics, and creating the local strategy for integration of community care.

Address correspondence to Dr. Shuichi Awata, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (35-2 Sakae-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0015)