Angela Rippon CBE backs charity’s call to make dementia training mandatory

Today, Wednesday 13 November, broadcaster and journalist, Angela Rippon CBE will join people affected by dementia at a special Alzheimer’s Society parliamentary event in Westminster, calling on the UK Government to make dementia training mandatory for the social care workforce in England.

The need for quality dementia care

Around one million people are living with dementia in the UK, making them one of the biggest groups drawing on social care. According to Alzheimer’s Society nearly 60% of people receiving care at home and 70% of people living in older age residential care have dementia. Most dementia care is provided through social care rather than the NHS, yet only 29% of care workers in England have received any dementia training.

Specialist dementia training equips care workers with the skills and knowledge they need to provide good care, build positive relationships and can reduce the inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs which are sometimes used to manage behaviours that challenge. Another benefit is the potential cost savings from reduced GP appointments and emergency hospital admissions.

The social care workforce faces a number of challenges such as work-related stress and burnout, high turnover rates and limited career progression.  A long-term social care workforce strategy which delivers fair pay for care staff, reduces staff turnover, and provides high-quality dementia care is also needed.

What we're calling for

Dara de Burca, Executive Director of Dementia Support and Partnerships at Alzheimer’s Society, said:

“Dementia is a complex condition and affects everyone differently. Symptoms vary and get worse over time, so people need personalised care which maintains their quality of life for as long as possible.

“Families affected by dementia rely heavily on social care to support their loved ones, so it’s alarming that less than a third of care workers have received any dementia training. We wouldn’t expect a midwife to deliver a baby without any training, but we expect care staff to provide high-quality care for people with dementia without the appropriate training.

We all want the best possible care for the people we love. Our research shows investing in dementia training reaps significant benefits and is cost-effective. 

"It can reduce agitation in people with dementia, cut emergency hospital admissions and GP visits and the inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs.

“Dementia is the biggest health and social care issue of our time, costing the UK £42 billion per year, but it isn’t the priority it should be amongst decision makers. We’re calling on the UK Government to take urgent steps to improve dementia care by making dementia training mandatory for the adult social care workforce.”

Statements from our supporters

Angela Rippon CBE, broadcaster and Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador, said:

“I was a carer for my late mum, Edna, who lived with vascular dementia. 

After mum’s diagnosis, I saw the difference the right care and understanding of dementia can make. It helped to preserve Mum’s dignity, made her feel loved and that she was still a valued part of our family.

“I’ve seen first-hand how dementia changes a person’s behaviour. When Mum was diagnosed, she became agoraphobic, angry and aggressive; she had a complete change in character. I learnt not to take it personally; it was dementia speaking, not my mum. But it so clearly showed me the importance of dementia training - how the right attitude towards an understanding of dementia can truly revolutionise and transform care.”

Katie Griffin from the New Forest, whose dad Alan is living with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease, said:

“My dad is 84 and in the final stages of dementia. He can no longer speak more than a few words and needs all care provided, 24 hours a day, from moving, being fed, washed and all decisions made for him. He is cared for at home by carers provided by various agencies.

“I have to put my faith now in those that give care to my dad and when I am not there, I have no way to tell if my dad is happy and safe. Dad has needed full care at home for five years now and so I have seen both good and poor care and I cannot emphasise the difference it makes to us as a whole family when care is at its best to when it is not.

“I need to know that dad is cared for by people who understand dementia and who recognise that dementia causes a person to act in way that they didn’t used to, or that may be inappropriate. And for them to be caring and compassionate in this understanding.

“The quality of dementia care is inconsistent which I feel could be addressed by mandatory dementia training. Dementia itself varies and changes and at the heart of it is a person who in time can no longer speak for themselves.”

Skills for Care included mandatory training for the adult social workforce in their strategy earlier this year. The CEO, Oonagh Smyth, said:

“Dementia is a complex condition that, for many people, slowly disconnects them from their memories, loved ones, and even themselves. The data shows that the number of people with dementia is expected to rise by 43% by 2040—from 982,000 today to 1.4 million. This represents a significant increase in the demand for care services, which will need to deliver the kind of support necessary to truly make a difference for those living with dementia.

“Social care can provide the much-needed compassion, dignity, and understanding these people require to lead fulfilling lives. But it’s not just about care — it’s about creating moments of connection in a world that often feels increasingly unfamiliar. Achieving this will depend on the proper training of those delivering the support.

Mandatory dementia training for every member of the social care workforce is one of the recommendations in the Workforce Strategy we developed and an important step towards addressing a major challenge for our sector.

 

Our report on why dementia training matters

At today’s event in Portcullis House, Westminster, Alzheimer’s Society will launch its ‘Because we’re human too’ report which highlights why dementia training matters and how to deliver it. Their research shows that scaling up dementia training for the social care workforce is economical when using person-centred, evidence-based programmes like ‘Wellbeing and Health for People Living with Dementia’ (WHELD) and ‘New Interventions for Independence in Dementia’ (NIDUS) Professional.

There is an upfront investment in implementing WHELD (care homes) and NIDUS (home care) training in England of £53.4 million. This works out as £2,000 per care home and £1,606 per home care agency. However, the rolling out of WHELD training in care homes could save a net £29.4 million per year from reduced emergency hospital admissions and GP appointments alone. Meanwhile, the NIDUS Professional training could help keep more people with dementia at home for longer, reducing the time they need to spend in costly residential or nursing homes which on average cost £800 per week for residential and £1,078 for nursing, paid by local authority and/or families.

The report also highlights that dementia training promotes better quality relationships between people with dementia and care staff, improves job satisfaction for care staff and reduces staff turnover.