Most people with dementia in Leicestershire and Rutland not accessing support, says charity
A new report from the Alzheimer's Society shows the East Midlands spends £3.1bn every year on tackling the UK's biggest killer
Last updated 13th May 2024
A leading dementia support charity is concerned most people suspected of living with the condition in Leicestershire and Rutland aren't being reached by support services.
The total amount being spent on dementia care in the East Midlands is now reaching a staggering £3.1 billion per year, according to the Alzheimer's Society.
Head of mental health at Age UK in Leicestershire and Rutland, Lisa Goodman, said: "There's definitely been an increase in referrals...
...I've been working in dementia support for the last 20 years. Now I think the projected figure is about 19,000 people in Leicestershire (and Rutland) to be suspected of living with dementia.
Many of those are not diagnosed. It's not about giving people a label of dementia, people shouldn't be defined by that diagnosis, but it opens doors for a lot of support."
She added: "Because of how diverse we are in Leicestershire and Rutland, there are things like stigma that you have to think of; lack of education about dementia as well. In some cultures there isn't a word for dementia...
...there is a need there for reducing health inequalities and ensuring that services are really accessible and tailored to everybody...
...we don't get enough referrals to be honest. We have our targets we're meeting but the number of people actually needing that support, we're only reaching 30% of people. There is a need for people to be more aware."
The soaring cost to the country
Alzheimer's Society research, published today as part of Dementia Action Week, has revealed the cost of dementia in the UK has reached a staggering £42 billion per year and is set to rise to £90 billion by 2040, unless action is taken.
Analysing the last seven years, the research uses the records of 26,000 people, revealing 63% of dementia costs are footed by families.
This figure further increases from £29,000 per year for mild dementia, to a shocking £81,000 for severe dementia.
The study, commissioned by the Alzheimers Society and undertaken by Carnall Farrar Ltd, is one of the largest UK studies on the economic impact of dementia.
Numbers of unpaid dementia carers to increase
The study revealed that in line with increasing numbers of people living with dementia, the need for unpaid carers will also rise by 2040, with 43% more people expected to provide unpaid care.
Many unpaired carers have had to give up work to care (16%) with a third spending more than 100 hours per week caring.
Many with dementia don't have a diagnosis
Almost one million people are living with dementia, yet a third is estimated to have not received a diagnosis. Funding on dementia diagnosis makes up less than 1.4% of total health expenditure in the UK, with the majority of costs coming for social care and unpaid care.
A lack of diagnosis means further stress and impact on loved ones, carers and friends when the condition worsens, effecting them financially and emotionally.
Alzheimer's Society reports with an ageing population in the UK, by 2040, those with dementia in the country will rise by 43%, with a 53% increase in London.
The charity is calling on the Government to increase access to early dementia diagnosis, to help families from reaching crisis point.
One in three will develop dementia
Kate Lee, Alzheimer’s Society CEO, said: “One in three people born today will develop dementia. It’s the biggest health and care issue of our time, yet it isn’t the priority it should be amongst decision-makers. We wouldn’t accept this for any other terminal disease, we shouldn’t accept this for dementia.
“One in three people with dementia do not have a diagnosis. They are facing dementia alone without access the 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 the cost to the health service and wider economy.
“Dementia’s devastating impact is colossal – on the lives of those it affects, on the healthcare system and on the economy. Now is the time to prioritise dementia, and that starts with getting more people diagnosed.”
Early diagnosis is key
Vicky McClure MBE, actor and Alzheimer's Society Ambassador, said: “More needs to be done now to support people in getting 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 vital treatment and care they desperately need.
“People showing signs of dementia, those now living with the condition and the people that 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've seen first-hand the challenges families face before and after a diagnosis and having supported Alzheimer's Society to push for change for many years, it breaks my heart that we're stuck in the same place with hundreds of thousands of people still undiagnosed.”