Charging for health care is an election issue

The Government's current policy of means-testing people with dementia for long-term care, which means that thousands of vulnerable people with dementia have to pay for help with washing, eating and using the toilet, is not supported by the general public.

New research released today shows that 79% of people believe that care needs arising from a disease or medical condition should be provided free of charge, regardless of age, income or savings. A further 87% think that the government should review its policy of charging for care.

In an NOP World survey commissioned by the Alzheimer's Society, over half of the people polled (52%) feel so strongly about the issue that they say a political party's policy on charging for care for elderly people will affect the way in which they vote. Strength of feeling on the issue was consistent across different sexes, ages and geographies.

Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, says:

'Charging people for personal care needs arising from a medical condition is clearly an issue that is close to people's hearts. There is no justification for treating people with dementia or Parkinson's differently to those with other chronic conditions that mean they need help with eating, drinking and bathing. Not only is it inhumane, it doesn't make sense; there are huge hidden costs to the economy in terms of stresses on family members who have to become full time carers regardless of their own health and economic positions. Similarly, if people with dementia do not have their personal care needs met they can end up in expensive hospital beds with other medical conditions, which contributes to other problems such as bed blocking.'

The Alzheimer's Society believes that England should follow the example of Scotland, which ended means-testing for care for people over 65 in 2003. 'It is clear from this research,' says Hunt, 'that we are supported by the majority of voters in England on this issue.'

One in 20 people over the age of 65 and one in five over the age of 80 have a form of dementia. As dementia progresses, people find it impossible to eat, wash or go to the toilet by themselves.

People with dementia and their carers will march upon Parliament Square on Wednesday 16 March to protest at the government's current policy of means-testing, as part of the Alzheimer's Society's Remember Those Who Forget campaign.

The march follows the news earlier last week (1 March 2005) that NICE, the body that determines NHS prescribing and clinical practices, has recommended that drugs for Alzheimer's disease should not be provided on the NHS.

Hunt says:

'People are enraged about this, it combines with the personal care policy to tell the thousands of families affected that you are on your own if you get a common disease like dementia.'

Given the strength of feeling on the issue, the Alzheimer's Society is appealing to people not to attend the march unless they were in the first 500 to apply. Hunt continues:

'We were already overwhelmed by the numbers of people advising us that they wanted to attend the march and would repeat our plea, given the NHS news, for people not to come unless they have been advised that they are in the first 500. Please write to your MP instead as we are already oversubscribed on marcher numbers. Details on how to contact your MP are on our web site at http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/. '

For press and media queries please contact the Alzheimer's Society press office.

Notes for editors

• NOP World interviewed 950 adults aged 18+ in GB. The survey was conducted using their Telebus survey between the 18 - 20 February 2005.
• The Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers.
• The Alzheimer's Society is the Medical Journalists' Association Medical Charity of the Year. The Alzheimer's Society is the first organisation to win this award.
• Over 750,000 people in the UK have dementia. More than half have Alzheimer's disease.
• Dementia affects one in 20 people over the age of 65 and one in five over the age of 80.
• There are 18,500 people in the UK under the age of 65 with dementia.
• For information and advice on Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia call the Alzheimer's Society national helpline on 0845 300 0336.
• Our website address is http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/.