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Dementia isn’t Curable yet, but the Care System is

Dementia isn’t Curable yet, but the Care System is

Published: 20/05/2021

When Boris Johnson, in his first speech as Prime Minister in 2019, promised to fix the social care crisis ‘once and for all’ many at Alzheimer’s Society felt it was a watershed moment.

The message was getting through. The social care system was no longer fit for purpose and a clear plan was needed to give every person the dignity and security they deserve.

On Wednesday, Boris demonstrated his support for Alzheimer’s Society during Dementia Action Week by wearing one of our ‘forget-me-not’ badges at Prime Minister’s Questions.

It was encouraging to see. However, what we have yet to see are details of the plan he so publicly promised to deliver two years ago.

Sadly, decades of chronic underfunding and neglect have led to a care system that is difficult to access, costly, inadequate, and deeply unfair. And the pandemic has exposed these failings like never before.

Our heroic carers – those visiting people in their homes and those in working residential settings – do the best they can under increasingly difficult circumstances. But resources are stretched all too thinly.

This is why Alzheimer’s Society is now saying enough is enough. Because while dementia is not curable yet, the care system is.

The government cannot continue to kick this problem into the long grass. Social care should be free at the point of use — and the government needs a clear, budgeted plan with milestones and a timetable to make this happen. They must ensure their reforms consider not just funding, but also improving the quality of care that people receive.

A petition on our website calling on the government to act now has already surpassed 100,000 signatures.

Please add your name to it also and let us send a clear, unequivocal message that the time for change has come. visit alzheimers.org.uk/DAW to join the #CureTheCareSystem campaign.

The status quo cannot continue. Right now, people are spending their final years without the quality support and care they need to live the lives they want. We cannot fail them.