Rising dementia care costs reach £166m in Coventry

Alzheimer’s Society is calling on the UK Government to make dementia a priority and diagnose it urgently, as only 1.4% of dementia healthcare costs are spent on diagnosis, with families bearing 63% of the costs.

In this Dementia Action Week (13-19 May 2024), the Alzheimer’s Society has today (Monday 13 May) published new research which reveals that the cost of dementia care in Coventry has now reached £166 million a year. This figure will rise to nearly £320 million by 2040 if urgent action is not taken.

In Warwickshire, the cost of dementia care has reached £97m and is set to rise to £200m.

The charity commissioned one of the UK’s largest studies into the economic impact of dementia. The research was undertaken by CF (Carnall Farrar Ltd) using the records of 26,000 people, dating back seven years. It showed that people living with dementia and their families bear 63% of all dementia-related costs and that as the disease progresses, total costs rise significantly, rising from £29,000 a year for mild dementia to £81,000 pounds for severe dementia.

Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer and almost a million people live with the condition, but a third of people affected have not received a diagnosis. Despite evidence of the benefits of early and accurate diagnosis of dementia, spending on diagnosis and treatment represents less than 1.4% of total health care spending. Most of the costs come from social care (40%) and unpaid care (50%). The charity says a lack of early diagnosis means families are left to pick up the pieces and leads to further catastrophic costs.

The charity reports that an aging population means the number of people in the UK with dementia will rise by 43% by 2040, with the biggest increases in Northern Ireland (51%) and London (53%) and that action is needed urgent

The study showed that, in line with the growing number of people living with dementia, the need for unpaid care, often provided by loved ones or friends, will increase significantly by 2040, with 43% more people expected to require unpaid care. This is a major concern when already a third of unpaid carers spend more than 100 hours a week caring and 16% have had to give up work to care.

Further research by Walnut Unlimited also found that only 1% of people affected by dementia did not see the benefits of a diagnosis. The charity says a timely and accurate diagnosis gives people with dementia access to the vital care, support and treatment they need. However, lack of awareness, fragmented health and social care systems and workforce issues remain barriers to diagnosis.

Alzheimer’s Society is calling on the UK Government to increase access to early and accurate diagnosis of dementia to help families avoid reaching a costly and avoidable crisis point.

Alzheimer’s Society Head of Local Services for the West Midlands, Judith King, said:

“One in three people born today will develop dementia. It is the biggest health and social care issue of our time, but it is not the priority it should be among policy makers. We wouldn’t accept that for any other terminal illness, we shouldn’t accept that for dementia.

“One in three people with dementia never receive a diagnosis. They face dementia alone, without access to vital care, support and treatments. If we don’t address diagnosis, we have no hope of addressing the major dementia challenges we face and reducing costs to health services and the wider economy.

“The devastating impact of dementia is colossal – on the lives of those it affects, on the health system and on the economy. Now is the time to prioritize dementia, and that starts with getting more people diagnosed.”

Actor and Alzheimer’s Society ambassador Vicky McClure MBE said:

“More needs to be done now to support people to get a dementia diagnosis. Dementia can absolutely devastate families in so many ways, but receiving an early diagnosis can be a lifeline for people to access the life-saving treatment and care they so desperately need.

“People showing signs of dementia, those now living with the condition and the people who love and care for them are being forgotten – it has become the UK’s forgotten crisis despite dementia being the UK’s biggest killer.

“I have seen first-hand the challenges families face before and after a diagnosis, and having supported Alzheimer’s Society to drive change for many years, it breaks my heart that we are stuck in the same place with hundreds of thousands more. undiagnosed.”

If you are worried about yourself or someone close to you, then check your symptoms today using the Alzheimer’s Society symptom checklist. Visit alzheimers.org.uk or call the dementia helpline on 0333 150 3456.

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