MPs say care fees put unfair burden on dementia sufferers

Two-thirds of MPs feel charges for personal care services place an unfair burden on people with dementia, an Alzheimer’s Society survey revealed this week.

The poll of 150 parliamentarians also found that 81% beleved social care funding should be made a high priority for their political party.

An accompanying poll of 1,368 people, most of whom were current or former carers of people with dementia, found that only 23% thought the care needs of people with dementia were being met while 24% believed staff did not receive adequate training.

The Alzheimer’s Society used the results to urge the main political parties to make improving dementia care a priority in their election manifestos.

Chief executive Neil Hunt said: “It has been reassuring to hear the political parties talking about adult social care this year, but now with an election imminent we need more detail. MPs have told us this is an important issue but we now need to hear guarantees on how each of the parties would provide a fair, transparent and high quality social care system.”

The Alzheimer’s Society called specifically for dementia research funding to be increased substantially and improved training for staff caring for people with the condition.

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