Health and social care support for people with dementia

It is more likely than not that we will either experience living with dementia ourselves or provide care for a loved one with dementia in our lifetime, and the number of people being diagnosed with dementia is increasing. The economic impact of dementia is forecast to rise from £42 billion to £90 billion in the next 15 years.

It is more important than ever that people receive a timely dementia diagnosis and good ongoing person-centred care and support across primary, secondary and adult social care. Family and carers need to feel supported, with their own needs being met to enable them to continue to care.

At CQC, we are determined to play our part in making sure that people with dementia receive care that is safe, effective, compassionate and high-quality.

Care for people with dementia often involves many different types of health and social care services. To improve people’s experiences across these different services, it is essential to listen to the voices of people who use services, their families and carers.

Our report highlights many of the challenges faced by people with dementia and their family and carers. We highlight, in their own words, how a lack of respect, compassion and understanding in health and care can have a negative impact on their day-to-day lives.

Our report also includes many examples of health and social care services and systems that actively seek to understand the people they support and provide the right care and environment to improve the quality of life for people with dementia.

The efforts of these services, and other organisations, have helped to raise the profile of dementia and the importance of good care. What is needed now is a single definition of what good, joined-up dementia care looks like, which needs research and co-production. As the regulator for health and social care, we are in a position to help make this definition a reality.

This definition of good care must include the voices of people who face discrimination or disadvantage so that we can tackle inequalities and promote people’s rights by improving the care, support and experience of people with dementia and their family and carers.

As an organisation, we are committed to improving care for people with dementia and their families and will be inviting the public, those with lived experience of dementia, providers, commissioners, academics and national stakeholders to join us on this mission.

James Bullion, Interim Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care

Chris Dzikiti, Interim Executive Director for Operations and Executive Lead for Mental Health

Aidan Fowler, Interim Chief Inspector of Healthcare