Alzheimer’s Society comment on new Healthcare Commission Report: Equality in Later Life (National study of older people’s mental health services)

The report shows that, whilst improvements are being made in areas where health and social services are well integrated, there is still a high level of discrimination. In its study of services for older people at six specialist mental health trusts, the Commission found that people over 65 are often denied access to the full range of mental health services available to younger adults.

'Alzheimer's Society welcomes the new report from the Healthcare Commission. For too long people with dementia have had to put up with limited access to adequate services simply because of their age. The knock on impact in terms of the cost to society is significant. £15 billion is currently spent on dementia in England alone. The King's Fund estimates that this will rise to over £23 billion by 2018 if nothing is done to improve quality and cost effectiveness of care.

 
The report highlights that urgent attention must be paid to improving services for the over 65s and echoes our conviction that strong leadership is an essential part of this. The National Dementia Strategy for England offers us an opportunity to revolutionise services for older people. As this report shows, Service Providers and Commissioners must work together to fully implement the Strategy and monitor its outcomes if change is to be delivered.'

Neil Hunt
Chief Executive
Alzheimer's Society

Full report available from www.healthcarecommission.org.uk