The hidden cost of dementia in Wales

Alzheimer's Society has for the first time published figures showing the economic impact of dementia to society in Wales.  

The hidden cost of dementia in Wales was commissioned by Alzheimer's Society. It was researched and written by London School of Economics in 2015.  It uses the same methodology as was used to calculate the UK figures published in Dementia UK: Update (2014) and provides the most detailed and robust picture to date of the cost of dementia in Wales.

What were the findings of The hidden cost of dementia in Wales?

The hidden cost of dementia in Wales exposes the immense financial and human impact of dementia in Wales.

• The total cost of dementia to society in Wales is £1.4 billion per year, with an average cost of £31,300 per person per year.
• £196 million is spent on healthcare costs.
• £535 million is spent on social care costs (publicly and privately funded).
• £622 million is contributed by the work of unpaid carers of people with dementia.
• £6 million in spent on other costs, including police costs of missing person enquiries, advocacy services and research.
• Unpaid care accounts for 74.8% of the total cost of people with dementia living in the community, and 45.7% of the total cost of the overall dementia population in Wales.

What is Alzheimer's Society campaigning for?

With numbers of people with dementia rising and costs spiralling, dementia remains a challenge that cannot be overlooked. Costs of dementia will continue to rise unless we have a system that better supports both people with dementia and their carers. It is vital that Welsh Government builds on progress made and commits to an appropriately resourced national dementia strategy in Wales.