Dementia rates in city set to soar in next decade
The figures, from the London School of Economics and Political Science, show that more than 60% a year of social care costs in England will fall on people with dementia and their families.
In Sunderland, the number of people living with dementia is expected to increase from its figure of 3,880 to 5,187 in 2030 – an increase of 33.7%.
Previous research by Alzheimer’s Society has shown that someone with dementia will typically have to spend £100,000 on their care. Many are forced to sell their homes to pay for it.
Ahead of the forthcoming general election, Alzheimer’s Society is calling for all political parties to commit to radically reforming dementia care.
The Society believes it should be funded the same as other public services, such as the NHS and education, where the cost is shared across society, protecting individuals and their families from the devastating costs of specialist dementia care.
Alzheimer’s Society released the figures as it launches its election manifesto, “Dealing with the dementia dilemma”.
It calls for three commitments from the next government:
•Radically reform dementia care to address the specific needs of people with dementia, ending the daily injustice they, and their families, face in accessing the good quality care to which they are entitled.
•Ensure that people with dementia can participate in their communities on the same basis as everyone else.
•Close the research funding gap between dementia and other disease areas to ensure new treatments and life changing care interventions are available to everyone living with dementia, as soon as possible.
Alzheimer’s Society is calling on people to back their Fix Dementia Care campaign by signing up at alzheimers.org.uk/fixcampaign.