For too many with dementia, their care systems have broken down in the Covid-19 crisis
An NHS nurse does a home visit in Sefton Park, Liverpool in March | PA Images
4 min read
Covid-19 has highlighted the crucial gaps in dementia care in the UK - with reports of dementia patients starving, isolated from carers, or at increased risk of exposure in care homes
The Covid-19 global pandemic has created a difficult time for everybody. It is a particularly cruel virus that targets older people and those with underlying health conditions. One vulnerable group who are too often forgotten are those living with dementia. This crisis has highlighted some of the longstanding policy challenges if we are to care for the increasing number of people diagnosed with dementia each year.
As co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Dementia, I am proud of the work this group has done to raise awareness of this disease. This APPG has played a leadership role in campaigning to improve policy and practice so that those living with dementia receive the care and support they need. There is still much more work to be done however, as understanding of dementia and the level of care required remain poor.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there are 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK at present. This figure is set to rise to 1.6 million by the year 2040. The majority of people with dementia are over the age of 65, though it is a condition people can suffer at any age. There are over 400 types of dementia, the most common of which is Alzheimer’s Disease which affects 500,000 people within the UK and for which there is no definitive cause. The National Institute for Health Research believes its occurrence is likely to be due to a combination of age, genes, lifestyle, and overall health.
Those living with dementia require significant levels of support. 70% of people living in care homes suffer from dementia and/or severe memory loss. Much has already been said in the media about testing and shortages of PPE for those in residential care. The Care Quality Commission has recorded 4,343 Covid-19 deaths in UK care homes between 10-24 April 2020. Due to the low level of testing for Covid-19 in care homes, the actual death toll in UK care homes from Covid-19 is predicted to be considerably higher than this. For those with dementia in care homes, the risk of exposure to Covid-19 is significant, and more needs to be done to protect them.
Many others with dementia still live in their own homes and often do not get the care they require. The cost of care for those with dementia and their families is significant. The average cost of residential care in the UK is £600 to £800 per week. The cost of carers who support people in their own home is also significant and can even result in families selling their homes to meet this cost. Many with dementia rely on unpaid care and often do not receive the level of care and support they require for their condition. During this pandemic, too many people with dementia are receiving little to no care.
The Alzheimer’s Society has received reports of people with dementia starving or self-rationing food supplies during the Covid-19 crisis. For many, their usual carers or support structures have broken down as they are in isolation. As a result, they now struggle to buy groceries or ensure they have enough food. They have also had reports of people with dementia found sleeping on the streets or in similarly vulnerable situations. In several cases, they have been admitted to hospital during this crisis simply due to lack of care and support.
This pandemic has highlighted some longstanding policy issues regarding dementia care in the UK. It is our duty to ensure people with dementia receive the care they require. It is the least we can do if we are to be a civilised society.
Baroness Greengross is aCrossbench peer and co-chair of the APPG on Dementia
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