Marie Curie response to Alzheimer's Society's findings into cost of Dementia care

Scott Sinclair, Head of Policy and Public Affairs England at Marie Curie said:

“The government is not spending enough money ensuring that patients with dementia are receiving the appropriate level of care, particularly at the end of life.  Dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK, with more than a third of people caring for someone with dementia reporting feeling unprepared for the death of their loved one.

"We’ve known for some time that people with dementia are less likely to have access to specialist care. Despite having complex needs, chronic pain and psychiatric symptoms, most of the healthcare received by people in the later stages of dementia is provided by GPs or emergency services, with little support from specialist healthcare professionals. Dementia patients spend on average one month of their last year of life in hospital. Behind each emergency admission of someone with dementia, is a family in crisis and an increasingly distressed patient. 

"For many people with advanced dementia, care homes play the role of hospices but without any of the specialist support services that are available in a hospice. This is not fair to the residents and their families, or to the care home staff who are unable to meet the needs of their residents. 

"There is an urgent need to ensure the comfort and quality of life of patients with advanced dementia and provide the necessary support and resources to their family carers, and the staff who support them.”