Dementia charity Alzheimer's Society is calling on all Swindon political candidates to take action on the condition.
It wants candidates in the town and nationwide to acknowledge that dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, and the greatest health and social care challenge we face.
Alzheimer’s Society research shows that one in three people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime, and with over 2,882 people living with dementia in Swindon, insists it is time decision makers at a local and national level address what is the biggest social care challenge of our time.
Melanie Cressey of the charity wrote in a letter to Swindon Link: "As things stand, the burden of dementia falls on families. Families shoulder 63% of the care costs of dementia, which is at an overwhelming £42 billion annually in the UK.
"Without action, this figure will more than double to £90 billion by 2040. This means families in your constituency are paying for failings in the wider system that for too long have been overlooked.
"Failings that, if elected, your candidates have the power to change, locally and nationally.
"The dementia diagnosis rate targets across the UK are not ambitious enough, and a third of people living with dementia in England do not have a diagnosis.
"This means people can’t access the vital care and support they deserve and will not be able to receive new treatments for which they may be eligible, if approved."
Alzheimer’s Society is calling on the next UK government to:
- Deliver a long-term social care workforce strategy, so that we have enough well-trained staff to provide high-quality, personalised dementia care
- Set new, ambitious dementia diagnosis rate targets accompanied by funded plans to deliver early, accurate high-quality diagnosis
- Publish plans by healthcare systems across the UK on delivering disease-modifying treatments, including investment in the diagnostic workforce and infrastructure.
Melanie Cressey added: "No one in Swindon should face dementia alone. If you are worried about yourself, or someone close to you, then check your symptoms today using Alzheimer’s Society’s symptom checklist.
"Visit alzheimers.org.uk or call their Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456."
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