Blackadder star Tony Robinson backs Dementia Declaration

Actor Tony Robinson has become the latest celebrity figure to back Community Care’s Dementia Declaration campaign.

The Blackadder star, whose parents both had dementia, said he was “outraged at the way society treats its infirm and elderly”.

He added: “The welfare state may have provided for the majority of British citizens, but the medical profession has treated dementia with disdain that has too often verged on cruelty. We’re beginning to climb out of this Stone Age, but there’s still a long way to go.”

Robinson joins former government dignity ambassador and chat show host Michael Parkinson in backing our call for a full debate on dementia care during the election and for improved care for sufferers to be a financial priority for the next government.

Robinson criticised politicians for taking an opportunist approach to dementia care saying it was often remembered before an election but promises of improvements were rarely kept. He added that older people were likely to be at the sharp end of the effects of the recession, in part because they were often polite and had a strong desire to be self-sufficient.

He said: “Big steps forward have been made over the last few years, and there are some remarkable examples of good practice. But it’s vital that we make sure the politicians live up to their promises.”

All three major parties have made commitments on dementia in their manifestos, with the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives promising to prioritise research and Labour pledging improved access to psychological therapy, counselling and memory clinics.

Community Care’s campaign has won all-party support and received a personal endorsement from prime minister Gordon Brown.

Related articles

Television review: Me and My Mum

The Dementia Declaration