The fact that Andy Burnham has lived experience of dementia is encouraging in terms of pushing our client group up the political agenda, in my view. For far too long empty promises and what I perceive to be a complete lack of understanding of the emotional and financial toll dementia takes on everyone involved has been pretty much ignored by Parliament. Dare we hope that our new PM signals a new dawn?
I heard Louise Casey on R4 some weeks ago and could have cheered when she mentioned, in her interview, the fact that people are trying to work and (often) raise their own families whilst taking on the myriad tasks associated with being a carer. As many of you know, my mother is now in a care home after years living on her own, me at a great distance and an only child, and the challenges this created. But it doesn’t end with the care home. I never have an empty list of tasks to complete whether it’s paying the optician, the chiropodist, the hair dresser (and these people change all the time meaning I have to set up new online payments), buying clothes as she puts on weight, taking clothes back because they don’t suit/fit her perfectly, getting clothes taken up… I could go on and on but what tipped me over the edge recently was a communication from HMRC to say a bond she had in 2024-5 had earned over £12K interest meaning I had to submit a self assessment online tax return for her. After an hour wait to get through to HMRC on the phone I got the ball rolling which required more hours of admin gathering all the information about her teachers pension, state pension, the bond itself etc etc.
Ms Casey highlighted that dementia is an illness that can go on for years and years, thank you Louise! Hopefully the outcome of her work combined with Mr Burnham’s first hand experience will effect some welcome changes. You can read more here: The Casey Commission | Independent Commission on Adult Social Care
