Seniors participate in brain wave games at a nursing home to strengthen their cognitive skills and reduce dementia risk, Tianjin Municipality, China. /CFP
Before moving into a nursing home, 90-year-old Grandma Liu from east China's Zhejiang Province lived with her children, who found it increasingly challenging to care for her due to cognitive impairment. She often confused morning with afternoon and struggled with depression and anxiety.
Ultimately, recognizing their limitations, her children wrestled with doubts before deciding to place her in the dementia care unit at Luobu Nursing Home. Grandma Liu received compassionate and effective care, which helped her regain strength, articulate her needs and connect with other residents, slowing the progression of her cognitive impairment symptoms.
Alzheimer's disease is increasingly recognized as a public health challenge as the global population ages. In China, caring for a growing number of dementia patients has become particularly urgent, with nearly 17 million individuals affected, according to the 2024 China Alzheimer Report.
The disease imposes heavy physical and emotional burdens on patients and their families, straining social medical resources and elderly care services. In response, dementia care homes are emerging in regions like Beijing, Shanghai and Zhejiang, offering a more supportive environment for elderly patients.
Alzheimer's disease, a common neurodegenerative condition, is a growing public health challenge as the global population ages. /CFP
Some of these care homes are adopting innovative, patient-centered approaches to meet the unique needs of dementia patients. For example, facilities in Beijing have introduced models like "supportive care" and "group homes," designed to create a homelike atmosphere. Unlike traditional nursing homes, these spaces allow residents to personalize their rooms, maintain familiar routines, and participate in daily activities like card games, preserving a sense of normalcy and community.
Non-pharmacological interventions such as music and reminiscence therapy are commonly employed to slow cognitive decline. A care home in Shanghai, for instance, incorporates local cultural elements in its design, using traditional artifacts to evoke residents' memories. Additionally, professional caregivers assess each resident's health quarterly, adjusting care plans for personalized support.
National strategy for dementia care
In recent years, China has implemented policies to expand and standardize dementia care services nationwide, focusing on increasing the availability of specialized care homes. Cities like Beijing and Shanghai now require nursing homes to establish specialized dementia care units, staffed by trained professionals who conduct comprehensive evaluations every three months to tailor care plans as needed.
In 2022, Beijing announced plans to establish at least one specialized dementia care facility in each district by 2025, aiming for over 30 percent of nursing homes to create dedicated units, targeting 8,000 care beds and the development of more than 100 dementia-friendly communities. Similarly, a pilot project launched in 2023 in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, focuses on preventing disability and dementia among seniors through health education and risk assessments.
Seniors engage in finger games to train their brains and lower dementia risk in a nursing home in Tianjin, China. /CFP
Public awareness campaigns, including dementia education sessions and early screening programs, are being rolled out to help families recognize early signs of dementia and seek timely treatment.
"Alzheimer's disease has a prolonged onset, with the period from its initial stages to the emergence of dementia symptoms potentially lasting 15 to 20 years," said Tang Yi, deputy director of the Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Diseases at China's Ministry of Education.
"This progression is influenced by a range of risk factors, many of which can be modified. Effectively managing these primary risk factors could reduce the incidence of Alzheimer's by nearly 50 percent."
Alzheimer's disease gradually erodes patients' memories, and there is currently no cure. As of January 2024, the Alzheimer's drug development pipeline includes a total of 164 clinical trials in Phases I to III, assessing 127 potential treatments, with 32 drugs already in Phase III trials.
"There is hope for more accurate early screening for Alzheimer's using blood tests in the future. In terms of treatment, recent years have brought advancements in drug development, with new medications already available," said Tang. "When combined with non-pharmacological interventions, these approaches may ultimately offer opportunities for prevention and treatment of the disease."