1 in 5 dying in pandemic suffer from dementia

DEMENTIA is the most common underlying condition in people who die of coronavirus, data shows.

People with dementia are dying at nearly twice the rate before the pandemic. One in five Covid19 fatalities had the condition.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that of the 33,841 people south of the Border who had died from coronavirus in March and April, 6,887 had dementia.

There has also been an ‘horrifying’ increase in the number of people dying from dementia during the pandemic, even without taking into account deaths from coronavirus.

Campaigners said that the Government must act quickly to

‘These figures are horrifying’

combat the surging toll on dementia sufferers. Around 70 per cent of people in care homes have dementia.

Fiona Carragher, director of research for the charity Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘These are horrifying figures for anyone with a loved one with dementia and show for the first time the true toll of coronavirus.’

She added: ‘relatives calling our Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Connect support line tell us of their fears for their loved ones with dementia in hospital, in care homes and in their own homes – cut off from the support they need.’

She called for an urgent plan of action from ministers that would ‘guarantee safety and support in care homes’, adding: ‘People with dementia are dying in unprecedented numbers.

‘The Government must step in right now to prevent further tragedy.’