New ADASS statement ‘Sort Out Social Care, For All, Once and For All’ – Alzheimer’s Society comment

Following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s commitment to sorting out the crisis in social care ‘once and for all’ in July, ADASS has today published a report setting out what needs to be done by the Government to tackle the crisis:

• Short-term funding, including continuation of the Better Care Fund and Improved Better Care Fund, to prevent the further breakdown of essential care and support over the course of the next financial year.
• Long-term funding and reform following, to enable us to build care and support for the millions who need it and create a social care system that is truly fit for the 21st century.
• A long-term plan for adult social care which means a support system in place that links with other public services including the NHS and supports resilient individuals, families and communities.  

Sally Copley, Director of Policy and Campaigns at Alzheimer’s Society, said:

'This statement is a battle cry from within the social care system itself.

'The social care crisis is a dementia crisis - three fifths of people using homecare and 70% of people in care homes have dementia, and the impact of this on the NHS is huge, from avoidable hospital stays to people being stuck in hospital when they’re well enough to leave, sometimes for up to a year.'

'This is haemorrhaging millions from the NHS year on year.

'Charities, businesses, individuals, the NHS and social care leaders themselves have consistently demonstrated how alarming the state of social care is and how urgently investment is needed in the upcoming Spending Review. We must have a dedicated £2.4bn NHS Dementia Fund to address the most pressing issues for people with dementia, while longer term solutions are agreed and implemented.'