Alzheimer's Society responds to ONS data showing 300% increase in deaths in care homes

Since the outbreak of coronavirus in the UK Alzheimer’s Society have been campaigning to get social care put on an equal footing with the NHS, including coordinating a response with Care England and other charities, and writing  to Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to call for a dedicated national strategy to support care home residents and their families through the pandemic.

In response to the new ONS data released today, Sally Copley, Director of Policy, Campaigns and Partnerships at Alzheimer’s Society, said:

'It’s alarming to see a 300% increase in deaths in care homes, and even more so when we remember there’s an 11 day lag to these numbers, and that – with still limited Covid-19 testing – this doesn’t come close to capturing all deaths from the virus.

Care home data should be published daily, just like the NHS, so we can get a true picture of what’s going on.

'With 70% of people in care homes having dementia, families up and down the country will be terrified for their loved ones. On behalf of everyone in care homes, or with loved ones in care homes, Alzheimer's Society could not be clearer that what we absolutely have to have from the Government is a plan of how their promised Protective Equipment and testing will get to all care homes who need it. We must never forget that each death registered as a statistic is a real person, leaving behind a heartbroken family. People with dementia matter.'