Counting the Cost of Dementia in Hospital wards

David Kidney, Stafford's MP says "I strongly welcome the work that has been done by The Alzheimer's Society with their report "Counting the Cost- Caring for people with Dementia on Hospital wards”.

As a society we are only just beginning to come to terms with the effects of our ageing population. The combined effect of better drugs, more effective surgery, less smoking, and other improvements in the health care, means that life expectancy is increasing rapidly. More of us reach our 80s and 90s, and more of us will develop dementia  

The startling figures produced by the Alzheimers society shows that 25% of people in hospital have dementia. They are generally there for some physical ailment but the dementia, makes all other aspects of treatment more challenging.

This report shows that people with dementia stay in hospital longer than other patients, and that it is often a pretty difficult and distressing experience for all concerned: patients, carers, other patients and staff. Prolonged hospital stays for dementia patients can often bring about deterioration in both physical and mental health.

The case studies that we have seen over this last year from Stafford Hospital have shown us clearly the kind of problems that can occur in hospitals dealing with a 25% caseload of dementia patients. It is perhaps useful to recognise that this is part of a challenge which is facing hospitals throughout the country, and throughout the developed world.  

With Stafford Hospital the important work carried out by Professor Alberti looked at how to make the Hospital work better. It is very encouraging that his analysis is in complete agreement with the recommendations that the Alzheimer's society is making as being in the best interest of patients. Both Alberti and the Alzheimer’s society are arguing for measures to speed up the discharge of elderly and confused patients to their own homes, where they will have the comfort of familiar surroundings and the support of their families.

This is not a simple or a cheap option. Early discharge needs to be properly supported by care and medical staff, who need to be able to give relatives the confidence to be partners in delivering care. The closer linking of the Health service and social care service that has been taking place over the last 5 years has been done in order to get us in a better position for dealing with our ageing population. These steps are now leading to better integration of the services, and I am hearing some good stories about the increased level of social care support that is now available to people at the point when they take on the task of caring for sick relatives at home. This is something we cannot be complacent about. We are all still in the process of learning how to deal efficiently and compassionately with the new challenges of what amounts to an epidemic of dementia.

From studying the demographic projections for the next 40 years it is clear that working out how to fund the care of the elderly with diminishing numbers of working people will be vitally important, and that is why the carefully researched proposals in the green paper on care are expected to form a major part of the Labour party manifesto.  

Formal care arrangements are very important, but it may be that families who are caring for relatives with dementia need something more. I believe that the concern we have all felt about Stafford Hospital has brought with it some very good effects. It has made us all think of the problems an ageing society can bring. I know from my discussions with many individuals and organisations that there is a growing recognition that though the state must have the major role in providing the services and setting the funding structures, there is more that needs to be done. To give each other the compassionate care that we would all like for our own families it is possible that all of us may have an important role to play as volunteers and as good neighbours.