Experts predict significant rise in numbers of people with dementia in Northern Ireland
Published 13 November 2007
Dementia is set to soar in Northern Ireland with experts forecasting a 27% rise over the next ten years.
New research launched today by the Alzheimer's Society states that more than 20,500 people in Northern Ireland will be living with dementia by 2017.
The London School of Economics and King's College London research, commissioned by the Alzheimer's Society, reports that dementia currently affects 16,000 people in Northern Ireland.
Claire Keatinge, Northern Ireland director of the Alzheimer's Society says:
'This report gives us a clear picture of the scale of dementia here and now. We know that the number of people with dementia is set to increase by nearly a third over the next decade.
We need dementia to be treated as an health and social care priority by the newly elected NI Assembly, to ensure that people with dementia and their carers throughout NI, have services and support that meet their needs.'
Together with Scotland, Northern Ireland has the highest proportion of people over 65 living in care homes in the UK with fewer people receiving day care or domiciliary services.
