Project builds 'cognitive friendly' neighborhoods

Background

The term "cognitive impairment" covers a range of degenerative brain conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common and a major challenge for the rapidly aging global society.

Most types of cognitive impairment are irreversible. Early symptoms include failing memory and declining attention span. Later, skills such as language and cognition gradually decline until the patient is unable to care for themself.

The process is lengthy, so it affects the patients and their families.

Last year, more than 35 percent of Shanghai's 24.3 million permanent residents was age 60 or older－designated as "elderly"－meaning the city's population is officially aging.

Statistics from the civil affairs bureau show that Shanghai has more than 300,000 seniors with cognitive impairment, prompting the need for related public services.

World Alzheimer's Day is marked on Sept 21 annually. This year, the date was also the first anniversary of the launch of Shanghai's Elderly Cognitive Impairment Friendly Community Construction Pilot.

According to the civil affairs bureau, 27 of the 28 neighborhoods in the project's first round－one is still being established－have achieved good results, and the total area of support centers in those neighborhoods exceeds 8,347 square meters. Meanwhile, 13 of the neighborhoods are equipped with independent community support centers for patients.

The bureau said a second batch of pilot projects will be launched soon.

They will strive to make most of the city's streets into communities friendly to cognitively impaired seniors by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). Eventually, the same model and standards will be established in the construction of similar communities citywide.