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End of life, more so today than in the past, has become a prolonged and arguably distinct phase of human existence, and has brought about new social, medical, legal and existential concerns. These concerns are brought to an extreme when end of life is experienced in the context of dementia.
The Minerva Center for Interdisciplinary Study of End of Life at Tel Aviv University (Website) organized in June 2017 a three days international academic workshop entitled ‘Dementia: An Interdisciplinary Examination of an Ultimate Threat”.
Given the innovative topics raised in the workshop and the inspiring discussions that ensued, the Israel Journal of Health Policy Research joined forces with the Minerva Center to publish the papers that pertained to health policy in Israel. Seven papers representing multiple disciplines suggest potential answers to the challenges posed by the experience of living with dementia, the care for persons with dementia and the research to aid in improving them. Given the tremendous challenges posed by dementia to public policy around the world, we believe that this series of seven articles will enhance and inform both public education and debates on the topic. Furthermore, these inter-disciplinary views represent opportunities to improve health policy in Israel and in other countries.
The workshop was organized by the directors of the Minerva Center for Interdisciplinary Study of End of Life:
Prof. Jiska Cohen-Mansfield
Dr. Shai Brill
Prof. Haim Hazan
Prof. Shai Lavi
Netta Bentur, PhD, Senior Researcher, Minerva Center for Interdisciplinary Study of End of Life, facilitated the publication of this collection.