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Dementia: Covid-19
12 November 2020
Lead MP
Debbie Abrahams
Oldham East and Saddleworth
Lab
Responding Minister
Helen Whately
Tags
NHSSocial CareEmploymentWomen & EqualitiesMental Health
Word Count: 13780
Other Contributors: 12
At a Glance
Debbie Abrahams raised concerns about dementia: covid-19 in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Minister should commit to ensuring social care is on an equal footing with the NHS regarding PPE and testing. Family carers should be given key worker status, included in care home testing protocols, and provided access to PPE. The Government must guarantee reinstatement of stopped home care services due to coronavirus without formal assessment and ensure that local authorities are reimbursed for additional work done during the pandemic.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
People with dementia have experienced disproportionate loss of life during the pandemic, especially those in care settings who were separated from loved ones. Diagnosis rates for dementia have declined since March, and there is a need to monitor the long-term impacts of covid on brain health. Family carers are feeling the strain due to lack of support, leading to emotional distress. The death rate among people with dementia was over 25% between March and June in England and Wales, highlighting the urgent need for better support.
Caroline Ansell
Con
Eastbourne
Described heartbreaking letters from constituents unable to visit loved ones with Alzheimer's due to the pandemic, commended local carers and praised new relationships between care homes and hospitals. Highlighted the importance of risk assessment and essential service designation for day care centres and urged deeper reform in social care.
Chris Bryant
Lab
Rhondda and Ogmore
Chris Bryant discussed the difficulties families face when dealing with dementia during the pandemic, highlighting issues such as isolation from elderly relatives, delayed diagnoses due to lack of physical presence for assessments, increased anxiety and depression, dietary problems affecting delirium levels, and challenges in obtaining lasting power of attorney. He also pointed out a nine-month backlog at the Court of Protection and raised concerns about funding cuts for brain injury support organisations.
Elliot Colburn
Lab
Carshalton and Wallington
Estimates suggest that over 3,000 residents aged 65 or older in Sutton will be living with dementia by 2030. Living with dementia is incredibly scary and impacts family and friends significantly as they become carers first and loved ones second. The situation was challenging before the pandemic but has worsened due to social isolation and health risks, leading to a deterioration of mental health among those affected.
Imran Ahmad Khan
Lab
Wakefield
The MP highlighted the increased vulnerability of dementia patients during the pandemic, noting that people with dementia accounted for 25% and 31% of covid-related deaths in England/Wales and Scotland respectively. He stressed the irreplaceable nature of human contact in care provision for dementia patients.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon highlighted the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on people with dementia, noting that a third of the 475 deaths in Northern Ireland were attributed to dementia. He pointed out the detrimental effects of social isolation and lack of visits to care homes, citing an Alzheimer's Society survey where 82% reported deterioration in symptoms. Shannon also mentioned SAGE advice from September stating low transmission risk from visitors and urged for its implementation.
Judith Cummins
Lab
Bradford South
Shared a video by her constituent Tracy Gothard showing difficulty visiting a loved one with dementia, called for key worker status for family members to allow visits. Highlighted the decline in health and wellbeing of people with dementia without regular contact from family carers.
Liz Kendall
Lab
Leicester West
Ms Kendall highlighted the impact of the pandemic on people with dementia, care staff, and families. She noted over 23,000 excess deaths in care homes, predominantly due to COVID-19, affecting many with dementia who reside there. She stressed the importance of long-term reforms for a better care system, including proper PPE provision, regular testing, and fair pay for care workers. Ms Kendall also emphasised the role and support needs of unpaid family carers who have been pushed to breaking point by increased responsibilities during the pandemic.
Patricia Gibson
SNP
North Ayrshire and Arran
Patricia Gibson expressed concern about the impact of lockdown on individuals with dementia, drawing from her personal experience with her mother-in-law. She highlighted the significant decline in mental health among those with dementia due to isolation caused by the pandemic and called for more support for unpaid carers. The Scottish Government has invested £39.5 million annually under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016, providing additional benefits such as a 13% increase in carer's allowance.
Rachael Maskell
Lab Co-op
York Central
I acknowledged the complexity of intersections between dementia and COVID-19. The need for a significant and separate fund for medical research is highlighted, as charities' funding has been greatly affected by the pandemic. Environmental challenges in care homes have made them unsafe places with high isolation rates. There are concerns about reduced access to healthcare leading to decreased drug administration, therapy, and physio services, potentially increasing deaths from COVID-19 among dementia patients.
Simon Baynes
Ind
Clwyd South
I thanked the hon. Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth for her speech, highlighting the importance of dementia awareness. I shared personal experiences and a letter from Gillian Molloy regarding her husband's decline due to limited visitation during the pandemic. The Concertina charity provides live music therapy which has shown positive impacts on individuals with dementia. The Government's commitment to spend over £300 million on dementia research between 2015 and 2020 was met a year early, spending £341 million by March 2019.
Simon Clarke
Con
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
The MP highlighted the difficulties faced by care homes during the pandemic, emphasising that visits from loved ones have been severely restricted for dementia patients. He shared stories of constituents whose family members with dementia were distressed due to lack of contact, expressing concern over the emotional toll on both patients and their families.
Steve McCabe
Lab
Birmingham Selly Oak
Noted that the Order Paper mistakenly states the debate will start at 3:30 pm and advised attendees to arrive by 3 pm. Encouraged speakers to keep contributions brief, suggesting about four minutes per speaker.
Government Response
Helen Whately
Government Response
I thank the hon. Members for Oldham East and Saddleworth (Debbie Abrahams) and for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for securing this important debate. Hon. Members have brought great knowledge to the debate, from clinical challenges of diagnosing COVID in those with dementia to understanding what makes a difference for those living with dementia. The Government has provided more than £546 million in funding for infection control in social care, bringing total funding to £1.1 billion. PPE needs for social care are being met similarly to the NHS, and regular testing is provided weekly for care home staff and every 28 days for residents. Adjustments have been made to restrictions from the first lockdown to account for difficulties faced by those with dementia and their carers. The Minister confirmed that adult caring for another adult can form a support bubble with another household if it consists of a single person. Guidance has been provided on how day services can operate in a COVID-secure way, and extra costs for day services can be covered through the infection control fund. Visiting restrictions in care homes during the national lockdown are advised due to high rates of infection; however, trials of visitor testing will begin on 16 November to find the best method for reintroducing visits safely. Efforts have been made to support charities such as the Alzheimer's Society and the Race Equality Foundation, which provide particular work supporting black, Asian and minority ethnic people with dementia.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.