Dementia is a huge and growing health crisis. One in two of us will be affected by dementia in our lifetime- either by caring for a loved one with the diagnosis, developing it ourselves, or both. During the first year of the next Government, the number of people living with dementia in the UK is expected to exceed one million.
There is no cure for dementia, and living with the condition can be exhausting, overwhelming and lonely – for the person with the diagnosis, the people caring for them, and their wider family and friends.
For too long, tens of thousands of people have been left alone to cope with the devastating effects of dementia. Health and social care services are disjointed, difficult to access and inadequate for people with dementia. The impact of this will only make the situation worse.
Currently, there are too many barriers to diagnosis and care. Too many strategies have been announced but not delivered for people affected by dementia. And too many families have fallen between the gaps. On average it currently takes 4.4 years for people under the age of 65 to get a dementia diagnosis, and only 2% of people believe that all hospital staff understand dementia, resulting in inadequate hospital care for those living with the condition.
When people affected by dementia have access to tailored, specialist care and support, it can be life changing. It helps people up and down the country feel more confident, hopeful and in control. Dementia care can be fixed, and the next Government must be responsible for making this happen.
Dementia UK is urging the next Government to ‘Put dementia on the agenda’ this election and address the huge gaps in health and social care which leave many people isolated and unsupported following a diagnosis.
Dementia UK’s manifesto focuses on four key areas, calling for the next Government to:
- Fix the NHS continuing healthcare funding (CHC) process
- Deliver expert and personalised support for people after a dementia diagnosis
- Improve diagnosis rates and age-appropriate support for people with young-onset dementia
- Increase access to specialist dementia nursing in hospitals
As the next General Election approaches, we all have a powerful opportunity to put dementia at the top of the agenda- but it will take all of us speaking up. To help transform dementia care, you can sign Dementia UK’s open letter to party leaders, urging all political parties to put dementia care on of the agenda.