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On December 25, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the first meeting of the Promotion of Dementia Care Policies at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
During the meeting, a discussion was held on the implementation system under the Ministerial Council on the Promotion of Dementia Care Policies and the promotion of dementia care polices.
 
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
“Setting our sights on a 100-year life society, the Abe Cabinet is promoting initiatives to realize a society where people play active roles throughout their lives no matter their age,
 
As it is regarded that one in four elderly persons already suffers from dementia, or is in the preliminary stages, it is estimated the number of people suffering from dementia will increase as the aging of society progresses going forward.
 
Dementia affects not just the patients themselves, but also their families and communities, and we must face this challenge so as to materialize a society where people play active roles throughout their entire life.
 
Until now, all the ministries have worked in unity to advance policies for dementia care based on the New Orange Plan, which was formulated in 2015. Taking these circumstances into consideration, however, we need to consider more in-depth measures and implement them swiftly. Specifically, as discussed today, it is important to advance initiatives swiftly such as research on dementia prevention and measures to utilize research outcomes as well as a dementia barrier-free environment to enable individuals to live with peace of mind in their communities which they are accustomed to even after the onset, along with the contribution to the development of the care-service industry and promotion of global health through proactively sharing the findings obtained through these efforts with Asia.
 
I ask each minister to rapidly proceed considerations towards formulating a plan based on the recognition that responding to dementia is an urgent task.”