Why are people with dementia frequently excluded from NHS continuing care funding?
Many people with dementia experience difficulties trying to get NHS continuing care funding because the system is confusing, complicated and unfair. The artificial distinction made between care provided by the NHS (free of charge) and social care from social services (means tested) is at the heart of the problem. The new National Framework will not resolve this bigger issue. The NHS continuing care funding system attempts to define when someone has needs primarily for health care rather than social care. The Alzheimer’s Society believes this distinction is nonsense, and in practice often means that people with dementia are not typically recognised as having a health care need. Dementia is a physical disease of the brain and it is wrong that people with dementia are unfairly charged for care that they need as a result of their medical condition. We know of many instances of people who have won their case to get NHS continuing care funding for a person with dementia. The Alzheimer’s Soci
