Can Gerry Robinson Fix Dementia Care Homes?

Supported by Alzheimer's Society, Sir Gerry Robinson enters three struggling care homes in a mission to introduce small changes that make a big difference.

One in three people over 65 will die with dementia and people with dementia are likely to enter a care home as their condition progresses. Alzheimer's Society evidence shows there are huge inequalities in standards of residential care. A typical person with dementia in a care home spends just two minutes in every six hours socially interacting with other people. Most of these residents are in the advanced stages of dementia and rely on the support of trained staff.

In an article for the Radio Times Sir Gerry writes,

'Some of the care provided is brilliant, but most of it is decidedly average and an alarming proportion is downright appalling.  It is widely accepted that, although the ability to memorise or record something can totally fail for people with dementia the capacity to feel remains strong. They feel joy, excitement, pleasure, pain, hurt, anger, loneliness or hopelessness and feel them intensely. This makes our duty of care to them vital.

'Why then do we so often leave them in soulless rooms, bored, with nothing to do and with little personal contact? According to Alzheimer's Society the average time a person with dementia in a care home spends in meaningful connection with another person is less than two minutes in six hours. From my experience in looking at homes, this statistic doesn't surprise me.'

Neil Hunt Chief Executive of Alzheimer's Society says,

'Hundreds of thousands of people with dementia are living in residential care and yet the majority of staff do not have adequate training. We hear the horror stories, but also the hope among people with dementia and their carers about the difference good dementia care can make. We hope this documentary will be instrumental in raising awareness of what good care is and challenging our perception of what care homes should be like.

Everyone has a role to play in challenging poor quality care in care homes.  We must work together to ensure every care home has the highest quality of care.'

Ends

For further information please visit alzheimers.org.uk/gerryrobinson.

Notes to editors

• Can Gerry Robinson Fix . . . Dementia Care Homes will be shown on BBC 2, 2100, Tuesday 08 December.
• 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