Bridging gaps in dementia care across southeastern Europe: Regional challenges, cross-border innovation, and implementation barriers.

Abstract

Dementia is a growing challenge in Southeastern and Western Europe, with aging trends projected to accelerate in the former region. The region is facing critical gaps in dementia care due to rural-urban disparities, workforce shortages, and limited access to specialized services. Widespread reliance on informal caregiving and underdeveloped diagnostic infrastructure delay early diagnosis and equitable access to the healthcare system. This perspective article presents sustainable, regionally tailored solutions and innovative strategies from a multinational dementia network, which are aimed at improving care outcomes through collaboration, capacity building, and digital innovation. Tailored workshops and multilingual platforms have raised awareness and encouraged innovative care approaches. Meanwhile, mobile memory teams in underserved areas have been shown to enhance caregiver support and patient outcomes. The Circle of Care Hub framework was developed to bridge coordination gaps and promote equitable, integrated dementia care by linking healthcare providers, social workers, and families. Digital tools have been piloted to enhance professional training, interdisciplinary collaboration, and informal carer support. Addressing barriers such as limited services and workforce shortages is essential for sustainable improvements. Future initiatives should prioritize scalable interventions, such as mobile teams, digital platforms with evaluation mechanisms, and hybrid care models, while investing in early diagnosis, dementia centers and region-specific prevention strategies informed by robust epidemiological data. Achieving sustainable dementia care requires a combination of digital innovation and community-based solutions.