The couple were waiting for weeks for Jo to be able to move into The Bradbury Centre in Newcastle, a specialist dementia care home, because of delays due to regulation and red tape.He represents care providers and believes there needs to be a "clear national strategy" that is funded as well as the NHS "as the current system tends to exploit carers, rather than support them".During her wait, Jo's health deteriorated and Bill's mental and physical health suffered.
After Jo's diagnosis, she started going to the day centre at The Bradbury, run by the charity Dementia Matters. Because Bill and Jo had savings they didn't qualify for local authority funding and so they had to pay for Jo's care. "I owe my life to Bev," Bill says, adding: "I may well not have been here now had it not been for her.
They are now planning to speak out for families and dementia patients, talk at conferences, fundraise and offer guidance on available benefits and support."How many years now have we heard that dementia is going to be given greater priority?" Bev says, adding: "That things are going to change? But nothing has, it feels, so far."We need some political will, Bill says, to cut through that fog of "it's too big" and "too expensive".
Minister for Health, Helen Whately, said she wanted the government to "do everything possible to help those" with the "cruel disease" and the families.
Better care required and not being robbed by the Councils and Care homes. Cost of care is extortion.
We did already
I want to say 'They already did' But appreciate that would be in very poor taste. Dementia is a terrible disease.
This is one of the most debilitating long term diseases and robs people of their dignity. It needs to be talked about more but just as important should be improved help for those who are managing the disease within the family circle
Everyone will experience the effect of dementia. It’s a dreadful disease. It’s misunderstood. It effects the family. It effects the main carer as much as, or more than the person with dementia. We need to do more fast!
I lost my mum to dementia during covid. Nobody wanted to know.