On Thursday, Victoria Derbyshire focused her show on the topic of dementia. The episode is available to watch on iPlayer and for an hour, people with dementia, politicians, doctors, daughters, partners and carers all spoke about dementia. The show was poignant but also empowering. There was talk about embracing life after a dementia diagnosis. There were also candid conversations about the stigma around dementia; and how our fear of the disease is stifling any action we try to take to make society more dementia-friendly.
Dementia is a diagnosis that most people have come to fear. It’s not hard to appreciate why. Currently, around 700,000 people are thought to be carers to someone with dementia right now. The situation in hospitals is also a cause for concern. People with dementia are occupying 1 in 4 hospital beds. This puts a strain on the NHS due to increased demand. The amount of people with varying forms of dementia is set to increase if current projections ring true. It is predicted that by 2040, more people will die from dementia than people who die from cancer (that includes every different form of cancer). The Victoria Derbyshire show also revealed that by 2050 1.3 million people will be living at home with dementia.
Dementia is set to stay for a long time, and it will be an issue the UK has to face again and again. While research is ongoing, it’s believed that a cure is some time away, although there are medications available that can (in some people) help combat the symptoms of dementia. What was also apparent throughout the episode is that we need action. This is an area where successive governments have overlooked the problem. We have an ageing population, it’s a long-term issue that must be addressed, rather than postponing action.
Each member of the panel gave their own call to action. They wanted more research, more investment and – most importantly – greater understanding. As was stated, the UK is very good at talking but action can be slow to come. What was so positive about the show was how empowering each person was. They confronted their diagnosis and were living life as best they could. Their representation helped break down some of the stereotypes around dementia. Such focus can hugely help to increase awareness. Today, it was revealed that Sainsbury’s had helped support one woman to keep working after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The woman, who was not named, was given extra support, regular retraining and would meet regularly with the team to assess her situation. Such a story shows that with greater awareness, there can be more support for people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia to be empowered, and keep control over their lives for longer.
What came up in each discussion from the Victoria Derbyshire show was that there was a sense of isolation for most people with dementia. Viewers wrote in expressing their own isolation. One person said she’d simply been told by social services that there wasn’t any money, when she had asked for help with her parents who both had dementia. There were calls for more resources and more funding to be made available. The focus though was overwhelmingly on social care which shows still how isolating and difficult it can be to navigate through the care system.
Not everyone will have to pay for their care. Social care contributions are determined by a financial means-test, but families may still then be charged for top-ups which they may not necessarily need to pay. Furthermore, many people who have dementia may have a primary health need. If a person’s main care needs arise out of a ‘primary health need,’ then a person could be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare which would mean the cost of their care would be fully provided for by the NHS. Dementia can be a long journey. When first diagnosed with dementia, an individual may not have a primary health need but this could change in time. Social care can tip towards relying on healthcare, and there are provisions in place for those who have a primary health need.
Victoria Derbyshire delivered much needed awareness on what it is like to live with dementia, but what also was raised was just why we need a dementia-friendly society. Each element can be difficult for people to manage – whether it is completing daily tasks, maintaining relationships or funding the cost of care. Such a diagnosis can be hugely stressful. It can cause anxiety and anger for a lot of people. They shouldn’t be left to shoulder that alone. We need to do more to support those with dementia, and that means ensuring they can also access the financial support they may be entitled to.
At Just Caring Legal we can guide you through these difficult processes to help maximise your chances of successfully securing help with funding.
If you have any questions regarding Continuing Healthcare, or social care fee top ups then you can email Rosalind at Just Caring Legal today at [email protected] or call 0191 556 1078.