The care of people with dementia needs to be urgently improved, the government’s spending watchdog said on Wednesday.

“Despite a steeply rising trend in cases of dementia the condition is being given too low a priority by health and social services,” the National Audit Office said.

“Too few people are being diagnosed, or being diagnosed early enough, and early interventions known to be cost effective are not being made widely available,” it said.

At least 560,000 people in England suffer from the debilitating condition, with cases expected to rise by more than 30 percent over the next 15 years as the population ages.

The watchdog said dementia costs the economy 14.3 billion pounds a year, including annual direct costs to the National Health Service and social care of 3.3 billion pounds.

In a critical report it said only a third to a half of people with dementia ever receive a formal diagnosis.

So what should be done? Ploughing money into the NHS will do little – it will get lost in the system or become diluted.

For most dementia sufferers more and better trained care staff would make a real difference. Will the government fund placements at a realistic level to allow care managers to acheive this? How should care managers be held accountable for the extra service they should then provide?

Any suggestions?

A controversial decision by the Government’s health watchdog to deprive 100,000 mild Alzheimer’s sufferers of a £2.50-a-day drug which can delay the onset of the disease was condemned as “abhorrent and disgusting” in the High Court today.

Dignity challenge

What is the Dignity Challenge?

The Dignity Challenge is a clear statement of what people can expect from a service that respects dignity. It is backed up by a series of ‘dignity tests’ that can be used by providers, commissioners and people who use services to see how their local services are performing.

The Dignity Challenge
High quality care services that respect people’s dignity should:

1. have a zero tolerance of all forms of abuse.
2. support people with the same respect you would want for yourself or a member of your family.
3. treat each person as an individual by offering a personalised service.
4. enable people to maintain the maximum possible level of independence, choice and control.
5. listen and support people to express their needs and wants.
6. respect people’s right to privacy.
7. ensure people feel able to complain without fear of retribution.
8. engage with family members and carers as care partners.
9. assist people to maintain confidence and a positive self-esteem.
10. act to alleviate people’s loneliness and isolation.