Youth, Social Development and Seniors Minister, Tinee Furbert, says a new report on dementia in Bermuda is intended to bring clarity, coordination, and compassion to a system that has too often left families feeling overwhelmed and alone.
‘Dementia affects not only those living with the condition, but also the families and caregivers who support them every day,’ she said, adding the report provides a foundation for a more responsive and inclusive approach to dementia care in Bermuda
Youth, Social Development and Seniors Minister, Tinee Furbert
The Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, in collaboration with the Bermuda Health Council and the Ministry of Health, released the Dementia Integrated Care Pathway (ICP) Report 2025, which provides a comprehensive, evidence-based framework to improve how dementia is prevented, identified, treated, and supported across Bermuda.
‘As the island’s population continues to age, the report responds to the growing need for coordinated, person-centred dementia care that better supports individuals living with dementia, their families, and caregivers,’ the ministry noted..
Acting Health Minister, Alexa Lightbourne, said Dementia is one of the most urgent public health challenges facing Bermuda, and the Dementia Integrated Care Pathway is essential to delivering a coordinated, person-centred response.
‘A clear, structured mechanism for early identification, prevention, and integrated care is critical, given the pressure dementia places on our health system and long-term care services.
‘This pathway provides a practical framework to close service gaps, reduce stigma, and better support individuals and families, ensuring that no one faces this journey alone. By embedding dementia-friendly practices across our health and social systems, we can protect dignity, improve quality of life, and ensure our seniors are supported both now and for generations to come.’
The Dementia Integrated Care Pathway outlines a seven-stage approach covering awareness and risk reduction, early detection, diagnosis, ongoing medical and social care, community-based support, and end-of-life care.
According to the report, dementia poses a growing clinical, social, and economic challenge for Bermuda and with nearly a quarter of the population projected to be 65 or older by 2026, the British Overseas Territory faces mounting pressures on acute care, long-term.
The report noted that in 2020-21 dementia ranked as the second highest condition by local insurance claims, and using global dementia costs, 1.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) translate to an estimated US$94.5 million annual impact on Bermuda’s US$6.3 billion economy.
Among the key findings of the report is that the public and providers lack a consistent understanding of dementia’s causes, progression, and local support services.
‘Fear of losing independence leads to late help-seeking, often only after crises such as wandering or hospital admission,’ the report said, adding that no standardised screening in primary care, a disjointed care pathways and the absence of a central access point.
It said that wealthier patients fare better and that vulnerable groups such as low-income, immigrant, or isolated seniors, bear a disproportionate burden and that late discussions on power of attorney and palliative options result in unnecessary hospitalisations.