Alzheimer’s Society comment on the trial of personal health budgets
Published 8 October 2009
Twenty sites across England have been selected to participate in a study to identify the benefits of Personal Budgets for health and patient groups who will gain most from them.
The budgets are intended to give patients the freedom to choose the services they want for themselves or a family member.
'Any move to give people with dementia more control over their healthcare is a positive step. People with dementia often tell us that they want to remain in their own home and a personal health budget could allow them to do so - this not only makes economic sense but could improve a person's quality of life. Alzheimer's Society awaits the outputs of this research and the insight this will provide into how the budgets will work in practice.
'It will be important that any future expansion of personalised budgets is done in a way which will ensure people with dementia are able to reap the benefits.'
Neil Hunt
Chief Executive
Alzheimer's Society
Ends
- One in three people over 65 will die with dementia
- Alzheimer's Society research shows that 700,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In less than 20 years nearly a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051.
- Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions of people who care for them.
- Alzheimer's Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Alzheimer's Society needs to raise money to help people live well with
dementia today and for research to find a cure for tomorrow. You can
donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting alzheimers.org.uk
- Alzheimer's Society provides a National Dementia Helpline, the number is 0845 300 0336 or visit alzheimers.org.uk
