From: unk...@googlegroups.com   
      
   Dementia patients denied care towards end of life   
      
      
   Marie Curie and the Alzheimer's Society say there are 'system wide' failures   
   which allow people to fall through the gaps   
      
   Surely dementia sufferers are worthy of the sort of attention given to mothers   
   and babies?   
      
   Surely dementia sufferers are worthy of the sort of attention given to mothers   
   and babies? Photo: Alamy   
      
   By Press Association5:48PM GMT 30 Nov 2014   
      
   Dementia sufferers lack proper care because the illness is not recognised as a   
   terminal diagnosis, according to a report from leading charities.   
      
      
   The report, by Marie Curie and the Alzheimer's Society, highlighted the issues   
   faced by dementia sufferers in the late stages of their lives and the barriers   
   to the high-quality care they require.   
      
   The report addressed the terminal nature of the illness, calling it ''the   
   forgotten aspect of what has been referred to as a 'silent epidemic'''.   
      
   ''The issue is system-wide, there are so many opportunities for people to fall   
   through the gaps,'' said Phil McCarvill, head of policy and public affairs, at   
   Marie Curie.   
      
   The report said: ''To date much of the focus has been on living well with   
   dementia, with little focus on the experiences of people with dementia nearing   
   the end of their lives.   
      
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   ''We must ensure a stronger focus on the inevitable conclusion of what is a   
   progressive, terminal condition. Those with dementia will die (whether   
   directly as a result of dementia or of another co-existing condition) and we   
   must improve the care of    
   people in the later stages of dementia.''   
      
   This comes as the Alzheimer's Society suggested around 225,000 people will   
   develop dementia this year, equivalent to one person every three minutes.   
   The report said that because dementia is not often seen as a terminal   
   diagnosis it can lead to poor access to care, inconsistent quality of care and   
   inadequate pain management.   
      
   These problems involve inconsistencies in care standards and inappropriate   
   hospital admissions as well as poor access to palliative care, hospice care   
   and funding.   
      
   The report also said: ''Many of our responses to terminal illness and   
   ultimately to death and dying have been shaped in response to cancer.''   
   It went on to say core services needed to transform to respond to the needs of   
   people with conditions such as dementia   
      
   Mr McCarvill said: ''Unless someone has a formal diagnosis (of dementia), the   
   response of health professionals will be very different to the patient.   
   ''End of life care for people with dementia remains a hidden aspect of health   
   and social care in England so it is vital that we shine a light on the final   
   stages of dementia to improve care and support for people and their families.   
   ''I know from the personal experience of caring for my father that people with   
   dementia have very specific needs.''   
      
   The Alzheimer's Society said the number of people affected by dementia in the   
   UK will reach 850,000 by 2015. By 2030, the proportion of the UK aged over 85   
   is expected to double.   
      
   The charity said these figures suggested the UK would see a significant   
   increase in the number of people with dementia. The Office for National   
   Statistics has previously said that the illness is the leading cause of death   
   in women and the third leading    
   cause of death in men.   
      
   The new report draws on research from across the UK and particularly from   
   University College London, as well as findings from health and social care   
   services.   
      
   Following its publication, Marie Curie and the Alzheimer's Society is aiming   
   to bring several groups dealing with dementia patients together - including   
   NHS organisations, social care bodies, charities and researchers - in a bid to   
   tackle the issues it    
   has raised and develop an action plan.   
      
   Jeremy Hughes, chief executive at Alzheimer's Society, said: ''Dementia is   
   frequently overlooked as being a terminal illness and as a consequence, there   
   are unacceptable failures to prepare and plan for end of life care.   
   ''Despite much attention on dementia in recent years, many people with   
   dementia are not dying where they had hoped; others face meeting the end of   
   their life in pain or without dignity.''   
      
      
   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/11264103/Dementia-   
   atients-denied-care-towards-end-of-life.html   
      
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