Dementia

According to estimates, 170,000 people in Austria have a form of dementia. Due to demographic developments and increasing life expectancy, the number of people affected by Alzheimer’s disease is expected to rise to approximately 230,000 by 2050.

The Austrian Dementia Strategy “Living Well with Dementia”

The Austrian dementia strategy “Living Well with Dementia” was launched in 2015. A wide range of stakeholders, people with dementia and their relatives were involved in the development of the strategy.

The strategy is structured around seven objectives and 21 recommendations for action. Its aim is to improve the living conditions of people with dementia and their caregivers, and to enable them to actively participate in society. The strategy creates a common framework for cooperation between all stakeholders.

The Dementia Report 2025 offers a comprehensive overview of the dementia landscape in Austria. It serves as the foundation for accompanying and further developing the strategy. The report provides an in-depth analysis of care and support structures as well as the living conditions of people with dementia and their relatives. It highlights scientific developments, outlines key areas for action, and identifies future needs in order to further improve the quality of life of those affected.

Further information on the Austrian dementia strategy can be found here:

• “Dementia Report 2025”   (German only)
• The dementia strategy: “Dementia Strategy - Living Well with Dementia”, 2015
• The dementia strategy in English: “Dementia Strategy - Living Well with Dementia”, 2015
• The dementia strategy for easy reading: “Dementia Strategy - Living Well with Dementia - Information in Easy Language”, 2025 (German only)

Dementia Strategy Platform

To implement the strategy’s recommendations for action and achieve its objectives, close cooperation among all relevant stakeholders is essential. For this reason, the Dementia Strategy Platform was established in 2016. It brings together key players including federal states, associations of cities and municipalities, social insurance institutions, advocacy groups, academic institutions, and people with dementia and their relatives. The platform is coordinated and supported by Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (Austrian Public Health Institute) on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMASGPK).

The goal of the platform is to jointly develop perspectives and projects that meet the needs of people with dementia and their environment, enabling them to live with dignity. The platform promotes coordinated approaches and the implementation of common, cross-sectoral frameworks and recommendations.

The measures for implementing the dementia strategy at federal and state level are presented on the website www.demenzstrategie.at. The content of this website is in particular aimed at people, institutions and organizations that actively contribute to the implementation of the dementia strategy.

Work Conference of the Dementia Strategy Platform

Since 2017, the Dementia Strategy Platform has held annual conferences in different Austrian provinces. These conferences provide an opportunity for experts, people with dementia, and decision-makers to exchange ideas about current developments, challenges, and innovative approaches.

The seventh working conference will take place on 27 May 2025 in Linz and will focus on “Networks and Cooperation for Comprehensive Dementia Care.”

Further information on all conferences is available on the website www.demenzstrategie.at.

Current Measures to Implement the Dementia Strategy

• May 2025: Publication of the Dementia Report 2025 
• Conception work for the development of an Austrian dementia quality registry to systematically collect and analyse care data to improve the quality of dementia care
• Project funding provided by the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection
• National and international networking (e.g., Alzheimer Europe, Global Dementia Observatory)
• Information material and guidance (see brochures below)

Support Services for People with Dementia

At federal level, the following care services support people with dementia and their relatives:

• Home visits for care allowance recipients with dementia
• Care allowance
• Support and information for caregiving relatives
• Subsidies for the costs of substitute care
• Support for informal caregivers and financial assistance for caregiving training courses

Although dementia is not curable, early diagnosis can slow disease progression and significantly improve the quality of life. At the first signs of memory issues, it is advisable to consult a memory clinic or a specialist in neurology. Additionally, regional advisory and support services are available across Austria.

The brochure “Memory Problems? Recognize, Clarify and Seek Help” encourages people to take memory issues seriously and seek early assessment. Timely diagnosis opens the door for preventive and therapeutic interventions and helps affected individuals to access support early.

Brochures and Further Information on Dementia

• Brochure: "Memory Problems? Recognize, Clarify and Seek Help": Support for early signs of memory problems (German only)
• Brochure: "Dementia Strategy – Services for Informal Caregivers": Overview of available support services for family caregivers (German only)
• Folder: "Living Well with Dementia – A Guide": Practical orientation for everyday life with dementia (German only)
• Information on the Dementia Strategy in Easy-to-Read Language  (German only)
• Comprehensive information and services related to dementia: https://pflege.gv.at
• Guide: "Dementia in Language and Image": A strengths-based and dementia-sensitive approach to representation (German only)
• Guidance: "Dementia Competence in Hospitals": Recommendations for dealing with dementia in hospital settings (German only)
• Guidance: "Dementia Competence in Nursing Homes": Support for care facilities in working with residents with dementia (German only)
• Brochure: "People with Dementia in Public Transport": Recommendations for creating dementia-friendly mobility solutions (German only)

Downloads:

Living well with Dementia - A guide / Folder (German)

Living well with Dementia - A guide / Folder (English)

Živjeti dobro s demencijom - Putokaz / Living well with Dementia - A guide (Croatian)

Živjeti dobro s demencijom - Putokaz / Living well with Dementia (Serbian)

Živjeti dobro sa demencijom - Putokaz / Living well with Dementia - A guide (Bosnian)

Demans ile iyi yaşamak - Bir rehber / Living well with Dementia - A guide (Turkish)

Dementia strategy - Living well with Dementia - Information in easy language

A dedicated logo symbilizes the shared path of the dementia strategy. It is used in all strategy-related activities and communicates the core message to the public.