People with dementia are missing out on vital NHS continuing healthcare funding* to pay for their care because the assessment process is failing to meet their needs. Over 4,000 of you have told us that this needs to change. We need politicians to act now.
Annette and her family struggled for two years to get the care funding that her dad, David, was entitled to. By the time they received it, David had died.
I felt angry, frustrated and stressed throughout the entire process. It was like wading through treacle. I didn't feel the assessors understood the complexities of dementia and they didn't take Dad's cognitive and psychological needs into account.
It doesn't have to be this way.
Dementia UK's Fix the funding campaign is calling on the Government to urgently review the process so that more people with dementia can access crucial funding when they need it. Your MP could help make that happen.
If we all email our MPs, we can ask them to contact the Minister for Social Care to call for an urgent review to the NHS continuing healthcare funding process.
Will you urge your MP to make care fairer for people with dementia?
*NHS continuing healthcare funding is a package of care that is fully funded by the NHS. It can be a lifeline for many people in England with long-term and complex health needs facing soaring care costs. It covers costs such as home carers or care home fees.
What should my MP ask the Minister to do?
We need the Minister for Social Care to tell NHS England to urgently review the continuing healthcare funding process so that more people with dementia can access crucial funding when they need it. This means:
- Raising awareness of NHS continuing healthcare funding as an option among families and professionals
- Making the process fairer so that it recognises the complex and challenging needs of people with dementia
- Offering support for families throughout the process