Up to 250,000 people with dementia receive care and support that fails to meet their needs, resulting in 50,000 people being forced into care homes early, an Alzheimer's Society report has found.
According to 'Support. Stay. Save. Care and support of people with dementia in their own homes' for each avoidable month these people spend in care, the state will face a bill of at least £70 million, while ens of thousands more will be admitted to hospital unnecessarily.
In the current environment of spending cuts, Alzheimer's Society predicts the situation is set to get much worse.
The charity is now calling on commissioners to think long term and invest in dementia services and training to keep more people out of hospitals and care homes and to save the NHS and councils from bankruptcy.
The Society said Home Care staff need additional training and support to help them provide quality dementia care. Only 10% said they think the care people with dementia living at home receive all their needs.
Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of Alzheimer's Society said:
'It is an absolute travesty that so many people with dementia are being forced to struggle without the care and support they need. The consequences of this represent an unacceptable human and financial cost.
The report, based on a survey of 1,436 people with dementia and carers and 989 home care workers found: 50% of people with dementia who live at home do not get the care and support they need . One in 10 carers said poor care resulted in the person with dementia going into residential care earlier than expected
