Policy Briefing Launched In Parliament To Address Inequalities In Dementia Care
Researchers from the EMPOWER Dementia Network+ recently held an event in Parliament to launch a new co-produced policy briefing addressing inequalities in dementia care for adults needing greater support.
The network is co-led by Professor Catherine Evans and Professor Emma Wolverson and funded by the ESRC, NIHR and Alzheimer’s Society, and is based at the Cicely Saunders Institute, part of the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care at King’s and is co-led with the University of West London.
The briefing has five core calls to action to reduce inequalities in dementia care:
1. Establish a National Dementia Strategy with a clear ‘home’ for dementia in the health system
2. Build a dementia-aware society
3. Provide better care to people who live alone
4. Promote ‘relationship-centred’ care
5. Address the economic case to support integrated and equitable dementia care.
By 2040, it is estimated that 1.4m people in the UK will live with dementia; people living with dementia experience significant inequalities in health and social care provision.
Furthermore, access to dementia care for those who need it is not equally distributed or accessible for those from ethnically diverse communities, economically deprived areas, those living alone or with severe dementia and with multiple long-term conditions.
The policy briefing launched at Parliament was co-created with over 170 people from across the UK affected by dementia.
The launch was attended by people across local and national government, as well as representatives from the Department of Health and Social Care and colleagues from across community organisations and charities from up and down the UK.
Professor Catherine Evans, Interim Director of the Cicely Saunders Institute and Professor of Palliative Care, said, “The network has created a shared platform for us all to work together to realise much needed change in the care and support for people with dementia and their families. As a network we work to connect diverse voices to amplify the impact of our shared vision and create the foundations for meaningful change. Our five calls for action address the very worst inequalities in dementia care for people needing greater support and their families.”
Jim Dickson MP also said on the day, “What EMPOWER’s work reminds us is that improving dementia care is not only about clinical pathways or organisational structures. It is about people – their dignity, their connections, and their ability to live well, whatever the stage of their condition. Reducing inequalities is essential to achieve this aim for all.
“I want to thank the EMPOWER Dementia Network and everyone who contributed their experience, evidence and insight to this brief. It offers a clear and constructive path forward. I hope colleagues across Parliament – and across the health and care system – will take this work to heart and help turn its recommendations into action.”
