Home care 'crying out for help' - Alzheimer's Society

Clive Evers, Director of information and education, at the Alzheimer's Society says

'Home care help is not functioning properly. It is too rushed and impersonal. We need to stop, look at what is wrong with the system and make changes now.

'There are over 100 000 people with dementia and their carers in the UK who could benefit from home care services but staff are not able to build good relationships so care is ineffective. Rushed and impersonal care can be threatening or undignified to a person with dementia who may feel humiliated at not being able to perform a task quickly.

'People with dementia also need continuity, not sporadic visits from different staff each day. This will be confusing for the person and staff will be less able to tell if something is wrong. We raised these problems five years ago and still nothing has been done.'

The Alzheimer's Society runs home care services through its branches. These are contracted by local councils and are effective as staff are properly trained in dementia care and spend at least an hour with each person.