Office for National Statistics figures show care home deaths are still 66% higher than normal – Alzheimer’s Society comments

New updated figures today from the ONS have given insight into the number of care home deaths due to Covid-19 in England and Wales:

• There were 3,350 deaths in care homes in England and Wales (including from Covid-19), representing a decrease on the previous week. However, this is 1,335 more than we would anticipate for this time of year, taking an average for this week over the last five years.

• The highest proportion of coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths was in age group 85 to 89 years where 26.0% of deaths involved COVID-19 (593 deaths). The largest number of COVID-19 deaths was in those aged 90 years and over with 693 deaths.

Fiona Carragher, Director of Policy and Influencing at Alzheimer’s Society said:  

'While deaths from coronavirus are decreasing we cannot afford to believe this means the fight is won.

'Deaths in care homes are still 66% higher than normal for this time of the year, and with at least 70% of care home residents having some form of dementia, today’s figures only reveal more starkly that people with dementia are bearing the brunt of this crisis.

'We urgently need the Government to set out a plan to ensure that people with dementia will get the care they deserve during this pandemic.'

'Our Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Connect support line hears every day from families terrified that their loved ones with dementia have been forgotten, left to struggle with a threadbare social care system that was on its knees before the coronavirus crisis began.

'With dementia accounting for a quarter of coronavirus deaths, our support is more needed than ever – but having suffered huge financial losses ourselves, we need the public to help us make sure no-one affected by dementia is left to face this crisis alone.'