23/03/2024
"My dad, Andy, was diagnosed with dementia at 54. The social worker suggested that we apply for NHS continuing healthcare funding (CHC) to cover the cost of moving Dad into a specialist dementia care home.
The care funding process was long, scary and impersonal. It was a ‘one size fits all’ approach, which didn’t take into account the unique needs of a person living with dementia.
I cried the whole way through the meeting with the assessors; I felt like I was being interviewed and was scared that if I said something wrong, we wouldn’t get the funding.
We did get granted CHC funding, which I know is rare. But even then, it was up to the assessors to decide where Dad was cared for. It feels like a business decision – you have to do what you’re told.
The CHC assessors suggested placing Dad in a care home 40 miles away from his home and family. It was the cheaper option, but my sister couldn’t get there to see him. I would have had to travel every week and stay overnight to see him whilst working full-time. This showed how little the assessors understood about dementia.”
Rachel applied for NHS continuing healthcare funding so that her dad could move into a specialist dementia care home – but came up against constant barriers.
Next week, people like Rachel will join with Dementia UK staff members to share their experience with MPs and to call for urgent change at our Fix the Funding event in parliament. This is our opportunity to give politicians one clear message – that we want the Government to urgently review the care funding process so that no one faces dementia alone.
🚨This is your last chance to invite your MP and make sure they hear directly from people affected by dementia about why and how the process must be improved. ➡️ https://action.dementiauk.org/invite-your-mp?utm_campaign=ftf24&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social
