POLL OF THE DAY: Should more funding go towards dementia care in Britain?

After Alzheimer’s Research UK warned the “crisis will only worsen”, GB News asks its members should more money go towards funding dementia care in Britain?

Britain’s dementia crisis has reached alarming new heights, with a shocking survey revealing that more than a third of caregivers have been forced to abandon their careers to look after loved ones.

The devastating toll on families has been laid bare by new research from Home Instead, showing that 37 per cent of caregivers had to quit their jobs whilst 30 per cent were compelled to downsize or sell their homes.

The scale of the crisis has become so severe that two-thirds of respondents are now calling for dementia to be declared a health emergency.

Almost two-fifths of Britons believe they have a relative with undiagnosed dementia, according to the wide-ranging survey of 1,000 people.

The situation appears particularly acute for multigenerational family carers, with 51 per cent reporting having a family member affected by the condition.

Ruth Brown, chief operating officer of Home Instead, told the Daily Express: “A diagnosis of dementia is devastating for any individual but the wider impact on family carers can also be horrendous.”

“Our research paints a fairly desperate picture, with lives and careers put on hold for many who step into care for their loved ones,” she added.

The survey revealed that 76 per cent of respondents are calling for a national screening programme to improve early diagnosis.

Nearly a third of those surveyed had a family member with dementia, highlighting the widespread nature of the crisis.

The findings come as experts predict the number of Britons with dementia will surge from the current one million to 1.4 million by 2040.

“What these families need is practical help,” Brown emphasised, noting the urgent need for workable solutions to support struggling carers.

The crisis has reached a grim milestone, with new figures from Alzheimer’s Research UK revealing dementia claimed 75,393 lives in 2023, making it the leading cause of death in the UK.

This represents a concerning upward trend, rising from 74,261 deaths in 2022 and 69,178 in 2021.

Alzheimer’s Research UK has issued a stark warning that the crisis will only intensify due to Britain’s ageing population unless decisive government action is taken.

The charity is urging that the Government’s upcoming 10-year health plan must be used to future-proof NHS dementia services.

Their aim is to ensure the condition doesn’t remain what they describe as a “death sentence” for those diagnosed.

Should more funding go towards dementia care in Britain? Vote in our poll above and have your say in the comments section below.