Dementia cost reaches £42 billion in UK
The Alzheimer's Society are speaking out about the emotional and financial impact of dementia
Last updated 13th May 2024
Dementia costs the UK a staggering £42 billion according to the Alzheimer's Society, which has also revealed that families foot 63% of the costs.
The charity's 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.”
Caring for a loved one with the illness 'only gets harder'
A woman from South Yorkshire - who lost her first husband to early onset dementia - tells us looking after someone with the illness 'never gets any easier'.
The UK's biggest killer is already costing people £3.4 billion across Yorkshire & the Humber.
Judith King - who lives in Sheffield & now works for the Alzheimer's Society - tells us the charity gave her family 'hope' during a desperate time:
"The organisation supported us to get a proper diagnosis and supported us to cope with everything that came after that in terms of accessing services.
"They also allowed us to understand what to expect.
"Many carers don't see themselves as carers, because they're looking after somebody who's close to them.
"They see it as being part of what they do, whereas actually to be coping with a diagnosis of dementia and to be supporting somebody, does place significant pressures and burdens on everybody involved."