Call for support for people with dementia and their carers

A report published today by the Alzheimer’s Society calls for better support for people with dementia who are living at home.

There are 750,000 people living with dementia in the UK, two-thirds of whom live in their own homes in the community, while one-third live in care homes.

Based on a survey of 1,436 people with dementia and carers and 989 home care workers, ‘Support. Stay. Save.’ found that lack of support for full time carers was leading to people being forced to move into care homes or even be admitted to hospital, unnecessarily.

Kevin Whately, who is an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society pointed out that,

‘Reassuringly, this report also demonstrates that there is a care workforce out there which really wants to do everything it can to help vulnerable people such as those with dementia. However, they need more training and more time and we need to mend the crumbling system within which they operate.’

Training and Time are two words which seem to crop up again and again when talking about care for those with dementia and the lack of both appear key in creating the ‘crumbling system’ described here.

Get Into Reading is working with Wigan Memory Service to deliver reading groups for people with dementia who are living at home and their carers. Four members of the Memory Service team have undertaken training to facilitate GIR groups as part of a network of support groups which help people remain socially engaged in their local community and keep minds active. We are keen to develop this work across the UK and offer more people the opportunity to join a group. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Katie Clark katieclark@thereader.org.uk

You can read the full report here