More under-65s given treatment for dementia
● 33% increase prompts fresh plea for law to extend free care services
The number of under-65s in Scotland being treated for dementia has risen by a third in the past six years, official figures have revealed.
The rise has led to a renewed plea for a new law to widen free care services for younger patients.
Campaigners are calling for the instatement of “Frank’s Law” – a proposal to extend free personal care named after the former footballer Frank Kopel who died aged 65, six years after being diagnosed with dementia.
The number of under-65s in Scotland being treated for dementia has risen by a third in the past six years, official figures have revealed.
The rise has led to a renewed plea for a new law to widen free care services for younger patients.
Campaigners are calling for the instatement of “Frank’s Law” – a proposal to extend free personal care named after the former footballer Frank Kopel who died aged 65 – six years after being diagnosed with dementia.
Across Scotland, the number of people under 65 being treated for dementia is increasing each year and rose from 777 in 2014-15 to 808 in 2015-16.
According to data collection organisation ISD Scotland, figures highlighted by the Scottish Conservatives, back in 2009-10, there were fewer than 600 under-65s living with the illness.
Last night dementia expert Professor June Andrews said the increase was “almost certainly” down to improving diagnoses of the illness.
“The NHS should be congratulated for identifying these people and giving them help,” said Prof Andrews, author of Dementia: The One Stop Guide.
“It does seem incredibly unfair on families having to deal with the tragedy of early onset dementia that they do not get the same benefits as older patients. But local authorities are already strug- gling to provide the care to which over 65s are entitled.”
Among those treated in 2015-16 were four patients aged between 15 and 29, nine between 30 and 39 and a total of 43 aged between 40 and 49.
In addition, there were 85 patients aged between 50 and 54, 228 between 55 and 59 and 439 between 60 and 65.
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs said: “Even though people in those age groups make up a minority of the total cases, we are still talking about hundreds of people receiving treatment each year, and that number is rising. Frank’s Law campaigners have worked hard to ensure politicians are acutely aware of the challenges faced by those who are struck by dementia at an unusually young age.
“We now need to take that on and ensure this is put into legislation, and I hope the Scottish Government enables that to happen.”
Health secretary Shona Robison said: “The Scottish Government is committed to protecting free personal and nursing care, and to examining the extension of free personal and nursing care to those under 65. We will continue to take action.”
Dementia wears many faces. There is the elderly woman in the early stages who starts to forget things, or the older man in the latter stages who thinks he is living in another time.
They need our help and our respect to cope with the devastating condition.
But there is also the middle-aged footballer who became unable to walk, or the young woman, or the teenage boy.
New analysis has revealed that more people under 65 are being diagnosed with the degenerative brain disease than ever, reigniting the debate over whether the NHS should offer personal care to under-65s.
Currently, people with conditions such as Parkinson’s, motor neurone disease and dementia are offered free personal care and nursing on the NHS after the age of 65 while anyone younger must fund the care themselves.
Analysis of official figures by the Scottish Conservatives shows the number of under65s in Scotland being treated for dementia has risen by a third in the past six years.
Some patients were aged between 15 and 29, while a sizeable number fell just short of their 65th birthday.
These statistics are a timely reminder that people should not be denied support because they do not fit the mould.
Dundee United footballer Frank Kopel was only 59 years old when he was diagnosed with dementia, setting him outside the boundaries for free personal and nursing care offered to those over 65. His widow Amanda has fought for an end to this “discriminatory” practice with dignity and determination since she launched the Frank’s Law campaign in 2013.
Of course, the NHS has to have boundaries on what it can and cannot offer to ensure it can deliver the best service for everyone.
But it is becoming increasingly clear that dementia is going to be one of the major health issues of our time.
Campaigners believe that it is the biggest health and social care challenge facing Scotland, with 90,000 Scots living with dementia and numbers due to rise by 20,000 patients each year by 2020.
Scientists are constantly finding new ways to understand it but as things stand, it is still mysterious in its origin and its treatment.
Dementia is not going to go away and there is no meaningful treatment on the horizon, let alone a cure.
So we must be bold in dealing with the things that can be changed, such as better social care, better awareness and better support in hospitals and the community.
The number of under-65s with the condition has soared but the numbers are still in the hundreds rather than the hundreds of thousands.
Providing vulnerable people and their families with much-needed help will take up a fraction of the NHS budget and it could transform lives.
If someone has dementia, then they have dementia. It doesn’t matter how old they are.
The disease does not discriminate and neither should the NHS.