Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is a disease that most of us have likely come into contact with, whether personally or through an experience with a friend or relative. It can completely change the life of people who are diagnosed, not to mention the impact it has on their families and loved ones. This month, we warmly welcome Race Against Dementia (RAD) Day – an awareness day dedicated to beating dementia.
Race Against Dementia (RAD) Day is dedicated to raising funds that will aid the prevention and treatment of dementia. With a target of £127,000, Race Against Dementia, is a charity inspired by Sir Jackie Stewart, whose wife Helen was diagnosed with the disease in 2014.
Dementia research must be a priority
Globally, more than 57.4 million people around the world are living with dementia, with a new person developing the disease every three seconds. By 2025, 1 million people will be living with dementia in the UK, and by 2040, dementia will cost the UK economy £94.1 billion annually.
Like many other issues across health and social care, research and funding into treatment for dementia has been neglected for years. While the government has pledged and committed to prioritise this over the past three years, it has failed to deliver on its promises.
At least 70% of care home residents and around 60% of domiciliary care users have some form of dementia. What’s more, the diagnosis rate for dementia has fallen to a five-year low since the start of the pandemic. There are 33,000 other vulnerable people trying to live with the condition, with little or no access to the care and support they so desperately need.
It’s time to take a stand
One of the government’s commitments included a ten-year plan, which promised to transform the lives for more than 750,000 people living and coping with dementia in England. There was a commitment that this would be backed by proper funding and big partners to support it. It was supposed to be published in 2022, but as we enter a new year, there is still no sign of it.
KareInn is passionate about supporting RAD Day and fully backs the #PlanD campaign from the Alzheimer’s Society, which urges the government to action the ten-year plan as soon as possible.
The charity is calling to double spending on dementia research by 2024 and introduce a National Dementia Mission, including the development of a new dementia research taskforce. Changes are needed today to reform the social care system, the #PlanD campaign is recommending for the implementation of the Health and Social Care Act 2022 in England, by putting people living with dementia at the centre of their own care.
This is only the starting point; we need to work towards beating dementia for good and urging the government to do what’s right for vulnerable people and their carers. We are proud to be working closely with our customers across many care settings in England, and supporting vulnerable people living with dementia in getting the care and support they deserve.
