Last Updated on May 17, 2021

During Dementia Action Week, 17th – 23rd May, Alzheimer’s Society is urging Governments to honour their promise to rebuild the broken social care system.

An Alzheimer’s Society investigation, launched to mark Dementia Action Week, has revealed, even before the pandemic, tens of thousands of people with dementia were being rushed to hospital each year, up 27%, because, according to Alzheimer's Society, inadequate social care left them unprotected from infections, falls and dehydration.

The investigation, involving FOIs to NHS Trusts, found a 27% rise between 2015 – 2019 of people with dementia sped to hospitals with avoidable emergencies. And in 2019, nearly two thirds (65%) of all emergency admissions of people with dementia were for avoidable illnesses and injuries caused by failures in care.

During Dementia Action Week, Alzheimer’s Society is releasing a hard-hitting TV ad that is calling on the Government to ‘cure the care system’. Supported by billboard advertising, the heart-wrenching advert exposes the stark reality of being a dementia carer without adequate support.

In a supporting survey of unpaid dementia carers, almost half (48%) reported that they had performed tasks they felt unqualified to carry out because of a lack of support, and as a result, they reported three-quarters (72%) of people with dementia having medical issues at home.

It has also been reported by the charity that three in ten had experienced avoidable falls (29%), one in six missed medication (16%), one in five hurt themselves in the house (22%) and one in nine (11%) reported their loved one being rushed to hospital in an avoidable emergency.

Alzheimer’s Society says this devastating lack of support means many family carers are at breaking point, with 95% admitting it impacts their physical or mental health, 69% reporting feeling constantly exhausted, 64% feeling anxious and 49% feeling depressed.

With interruptions to routine health and care services, and isolation enforced by lockdown, people with dementia have seen massive health deterioration over the pandemic, and with spending cuts biting, the charity warns it expects hospital admissions to increase sharply, costing the NHS millions unless drastic action is taken to improve dementia care.

Kate Lee, Chief Executive Officer at Alzheimer’s Society, said, ‘With no drugs to cure or slow down the condition, it’s social care that people with dementia rely on every day. But lack of time and dementia-specific training among the overworked and underpaid care workforce means people with dementia aren’t getting the support they need, either in their homes or in residential care, leading to emergency admissions and more pressure on the NHS.’

During Dementia Action Week, 17th – 23rd May, Alzheimer’s Society is urging Governments to honour their promise to rebuild the broken social care system, so that people with dementia get high quality, accessible social care, free at the point of use, like the NHS - because dementia isn’t curable yet, but the care system is: visit alzheimers.org.uk/DAW to join  #CureTheCareSystem campaign.

As part of step 3 of the roadmap, the number of named family members or friends able to visit their loved ones in care homes will increase from two to five, as the visiting restrictions continue to ease.