My very first blog was about dementia. Over fifteen years ago. Since then I have regularly returned to the subject. Little has changed in all those years in terms of understanding and treatment of this debilitating condition.
You can read all my earlier posts by clicking on “dementia” in the Topics List.
“Lest we forget” was the title of my first post. But sadly it seems we have forgotten or at least shovelled the issue under the carpet. In 2010 there was estimated to be 850,000 people in the UK suffering from dementia, although that was only a best guess, as there was no clear diagnostic test available at the time. For most people there still isn’t today.
Equally there were few effective treatments back then. There are some drugs now than can help with the early stages of the disease, but no sign of a long term cure is even on the horizon. So forgetting is still the only option for the majority of people.
Which brings me to this weeks Daily Mail. Front page headline…..
“Public no longer trust NHS over dementia care”
It’s the start of a campaign by the Mail and the Alzheimer’s Society. probably to no more avail than all the previous attempts to improve dementia care. Nor can it be a surprise to any one.
Our politicians have prevaricated over this issue forever. Tony Blair’s government commissioned the Dilnot Report and then in spite of some good ideas, kicked it into the long grass. Cameron was full of promises but no action. May came up with an idea, which was quickly branded a ‘death tax’, so it too was dropped. Boris resolved to ‘solve social care’, but never even got started.
So we could blame all the politicians but, the reality is that the electorate won’t vote for a solution that costs them more money. Any solution will cost £billions. Much more than the Alzheimer’s Society can collect.
So is there an answer and how do we get to it?
My next blog will try to offer a voteable solution.
GrumbleSmiles 
Dementia
Dear John, your piece on the future the old-timers with the troubles of old age such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. As a younger man I always remember my mum and dad saying the oldies got old age and dryrot!
WE as an older citizen of the UK, and growing into a world after ww2 and listening to our grandparents of ww1, I feel one had to provide for old age? Although politics gave us the NHS and state pensions, there were still critical times in life, as one grew older with the responsibilities of housing raising a family, and looking after the older members of the family, one had to be prepared to undertake extra responsibilities , and save through insurance policies for life when one ceased work at a retirement age, or though ill health. Hence the modern life style may encourage dependency upon the state health and financial wise, while one is younger? One still has to be wise and save for that event that may happen on a rainy day.
Todays media are full of alledged opportunities how one may live off the state, and our new dwellers/citizens/immigrants, need to understand that the pound in the hand now has to be worked for, and repaid,. Us olde citizens have done this in the majority. I find the political classes hounding the older citizens for taxes, and yet reducing the government service such as state pension, and NHS.
Maybe a fresh look at taxation, and instead of tax on income one has to pay tax on services? Not ideal we need as a nation a mixture of both! However I wish to remain safe and secure and healthy with all my family, and all the incomers too our nation, should be encouraged not only to settle in Britain the UK, but pay in kind such as time and work duties to help us all as british Uk citizens to lead a trustworthy and meaning full life style, and not just a straight forward, expectancy of what they may wish for their own families in their homeland/place of birth.