Rehabilitation as a human right for people and families living with dementia: an ethical and social justice challenge

Abstract

Rehabilitation as a human right for people and families living with dementia represents an ethical and social justice challenge within the context of population aging and epidemiological transition in Costa Rica. This editorial examines how the sustained increase in chronic diseases and the prevalence of dementia—affecting more than 30,000 individuals in the country—requires comprehensive and continuous services that go beyond clinical care to include family and community dimensions. Dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, leads to progressive functional decline, disability, and dependency, impacting the quality of life of individuals and their caregivers.

The World Health Organization and Alzheimer’s Disease International highlight rehabilitation as an essential service within universal health coverage, capable of optimizing functioning, reducing disability, and promoting social participation. A tiered model is proposed, encompassing primary care, community-based rehabilitation, specialized services, high-intensity units, and family self-care, all structured under personalized, goal-oriented, and collaborative principles. These strategies integrate enhanced learning approaches, compensatory techniques, and person-centered care, fostering autonomy and quality of life.

Universidad Santa Paula, a pioneer in rehabilitation education in Central America, leads initiatives aligned with “Rehabilitation 2030” and the “World Alzheimer Report 2025,” promoting research, curricular innovation, and public policy development. Reimagining dementia care through rehabilitation does not halt the disease but provides support, compensates for limitations, and protects identity, constituting a profound expression of social justice and human development.