People with dementia ‘let down’ by insufficient care

Hundreds of thousands of dementia patients are being placed at risk due to substandard care and support, a report by the Alzheimer's Society claims.

A survey of 1,436 people with dementia and carers revealed countless instances of people being left bedridden, wearing unchanged incontinence pads and without the correct nutrition.

Just ten percent of home care staff believe the service provided to dementia sufferers meets their needs.

The charity said 50,000 people will be forced into care homes because they are unable to get the support they need to stay in their own homes for as long as possible.

Alzheimer's Society chief executive Jeremy Hughes said: "It is an absolute travesty that so many people with dementia are being forced to struggle without the care and support they need."

Care services minister Paul Burstow said the charity was right to draw attention to home care for people with dementia and pointed out that the coalition government's action plan for coping with the illness places a focus on "early diagnosis followed by proper planning".