Dementia is no laughing matter

Reform’s collapse into backstabbing and chaos after only a few short months was so predictable it is barely worthy of comment. But Rupert Lowe’s allegations that there had been malicious briefings against him from “senior Reform figures” claiming he had dementia are despicable and must be challenged.

Dementia is no laughing matter and should never be trivialised. It is such a cruel disease. My Dad died of Alzheimer’s 18 months ago. Nothing can prepare you for what feels like losing a loved one twice. First you watch the person you know slowly disappear in front of you and then you lose them all over again as their body finally gives up the fight.

Dementia is the defining health and social care challenge of our time, with half of us set to be affected by it in our lifetimes. Either through getting a diagnosis ourselves or caring for someone who is suffering.

My Mum was my Dad’s sole carer whilst he battled with the disease over the last few years of his life. Caring for someone with dementia takes a huge toll and it is vital as a society that we care for the carers as much they care for the sufferer. That is why I campaigned so hard against Derbyshire Conservative’s proposals to close our adult day care centres, including doing town hall meetings and raising the issue directly with the Prime Minister in Parliament.

Our adult day care centres provided such a lifeline for the families that use them and the proposals to close them were so shortsighted. At a time when we need more and better social care the Conservatives decided to cut it. Their proposals caused a great deal of distress to patients, carers and their families. It was great that we managed to force Derbyshire Conservatives into a u-turn and to keep Eccles Fold in Chapel open. But they still went ahead with the devastating closures of the Jubilee Centre in New Mills and Queens Court in Buxton.

Carers are our country’s unsung heroes. That is why I was so pleased to see Rachel Reeves increase the weekly earnings limit for Carer’s Allowance to 16 hours at the National Living Wage. This change that will come in next month will make over 60,000 carers eligible for support and help them to better balance work and caring responsibilities.

There is much more to do to support families affected by dementia, not least the independent commission’s work on building a national consensus around a new national care service able to meet the needs of older and disabled people into the 21st century.  I’ll keep fighting for the families who, just like mine, are affected by this cruel, cruel disease.