Words by Smiley Team
Families caring for a loved one with dementia have long faced a struggle to find the right information and specialist support to help them.
Since the pandemic began many community projects aimed at supporting people with dementia have been forced to close, and a new report from the charity Dementia UK has shown that 86 per cent of carers feel their own mental health and wellbeing has declined due to the ongoing effects of coronavirus.
And a further 62 per cent of carers are worried about whether they can continue to care for the person with dementia at home following the arrival of the pandemic.
These stark findings have led Dementia UK to launch their Only Together campaign, asking everyone - including GPs, hospitals, carers and the general public - to work together to improve the quality of care for those suffering with dementia.
Dr Hilda Hayo, the charity’s CEO said: “Families affected by dementia have always been in the dark, but even more so during the pandemic.
“Information about how the condition could affect them and who to turn to in times of need has been lacking. Added to this is a climate where community support services are all but drying up. “Our report highlights the importance of working together to improve dementia specialist support for the thousands of families living with dementia.”
Dementia UK currently fund 305 Admiral nurses, specialist nurses who work with thousands of dementia patients and their families across the country, offering care, support and information about how to manage the condition.
They help carers like Ed Bazalgette, who is based in London but is caring for his mum in Devon. Ed explained: “The system is so fragmented for people with dementia and there was a time when we needed to rely on my Admiral Nurse, Mary-Jo, to connect the dots between all the support services and professionals working in dementia care.
“She was a fantastic help when it came to liaising with the continence supplier. I just do not know what I would have done without her.”
Now the charity are calling on families and carers to help them get a better picture of just what dementia care looks like in the UK.
They want to hear about examples of where information and support is excellent, and they also want to know where things could be improved.
And if you are concerned about the quality of care and support in your area, they are asking for you to take action by writing to your local MP or health services commissioner to make them aware.
Follow them Dementia UK on Twitter or visit the campaign website for templates of letters and more information about supporting people with dementia and their families.
