Damning Report Reveals The Truth About Dementia Crisis In Britain

According to the report, there is an increase in emergency admissions in 2017 and 2018 of vulnerable older adults by about 100,000. Today, data shows that there are 379,000 such admissions or a 35% increase compared to the years 2012 and 2013. Alzheimer’s Society leaders said the glaring reality is that many are falling through cracks of the broken social care system of the UK.

Inadequacy of Funds

Decades of under-funding eroded safety nets that helped dementia sufferers in the past. At present, there is not enough help to keep dementia sufferers in the comfort and safety of their homes. To make matters worse, the council made cutbacks on residential care homes funding, which lead to their closure.

As a result, those suffering from this debilitating brain condition are becoming victims of avoidable emergencies like infections, falls, and dehydration due to insufficient and costly social care.

The chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society, Jeremy Hughes, revealed that dementia patients today are usually dumped in hospitals and left there for a long time. A lot of patients are admitted simply because there is no social care that will allow them to stay safe at home. They are spending more days at the hospital scared and confused longer than they are supposed to.

An Unfulfilled Promise

The Prime Minister has promised to fix the broken social care, and around 850,000 people suffering from dementia and their families heard the statement. They expect immediate action. At present, about 40,000 patients are languishing in wards for more than a month in 2017 and 2018.

The report also revealed there are about 412 people that have been staying in hospitals between six months to a year. This is an increase of 18% since 2013 and 2014.

Over half of people found with dementia in 2017 and 2018 were admitted to hospitals. The overall cost of caring for those suffering from the condition has reached a staggering £34.7billion annually in the UK. This is expected to increase to £94.1billion by the year 2040.

Because of this, the Alzheimer’s Society called for social care system funding amounting to £8billion that should be included in the March budget. The organization also asked for cross-party negotiations so a free personal care agreement can be reached.