'Huge Inequalities' In Alzheimer's Care

There are "huge inequalities" in standards of residential care for people suffering from dementia, a new report from the Alzheimer's Society has claimed.

The charity's 'Home From Home' report surveyed more than 3,500 people, including relatives of people with dementia, care home staff and managers.

The survey showed that more than half of people with a relative in residential care said that there is not enough for the person with dementia to do each day.

Over one in four in family carers also said that they felt like they do not receive enough information about the care and treatment of the person they care for.

Connie Harris, from Essex, who cares for her partner, Lionel, told the charity: "Lionel has lived in two different care homes since he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He left one after two weeks because staff failed to make the simplest checks on his personal care.

"Where he is now, the staff see Lionel as a person and have the skills to support his medical needs. There is no comparison between them and the huge effect good dementia care has had on both of our lives," she said.

However, care home staff said that providing care that improves the quality of life of residents with dementia is the top factor in job satisfaction.

Almost a quarter of a million people are living with dementia in residential care.

The Alzheimer's Society is calling for care homes to begin operating as specialist dementia care providers ands for mandatory dementia training to be introduced for all care staff.

The charity said that research showed that a typical person with dementia in a care home spends just two minutes in every six hours socially interacting with other people. They also said that most of these residents were in the advanced stages of dementia and relied on the support of trained staff.

Neil Hunt, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: "Hundreds of thousands of people with dementia are living in residential care and yet the majority of staff do not have adequate training. We hear the horror stories, but also the hope among people with dementia and their carers about the difference good dementia care can make.

"Care homes must operate as specialist care providers with dementia training a mandatory requirement for all staff. Dementia training ensures care staff understand the reality of the condition as well as the positive impact they can have on people living with a diagnosis and their carers," he concluded.

(KMcA)