A SWINDON man who lost his mother to dementia has joined the Alzheimer’s Society in calling for more action on dementia care.

A report published by the charity last Tuesday warns that the number of people with dementia in Swindon is set to rise by 50 per cent in the next decade – from 2,600 in 2019 to 3,908 in 2030.

Adam Sibley’s mother June was diagnosed with early onset dementia at 51 years old. He spent the next three years helping look after her until she died in 2013.

“Dementia more and more is something touching people’ lives,” said Adam, from West Swindon.

“Most people know someone, a relative or a friend, who has it. But there is still a lottery for the care available to them and how they access it,” said the communications manager.

“By the time you get the diagnosis, it’s a very emotional time. We were able to get funding for care but only by being really proactive and going out and looking for the support we needed. Not too many people are able to do this at such a time in their lives,” he said.

The Alzheimer’s Society is calling on the government to prioritise access to social care, as the report predicts more than 60 per cent of social care costs each year in England will fall on people with dementia and their families.

Adam continued: “With dementia becoming so prevalent, social care doesn’t get discussed enough because the NHS is the big talking point. But there are more complicated issues underneath it and we need a party leader to do something.”

Previous research by the Alzheimer’s Society shows someone with dementia will typically have to spend £100,000 on their care.

Adam said: “There are conditions out there that get a lot more headlines and a lot more funding, but something needs to be done now. We can’t just let this condition continue to affect this growing number of people.”

Alzheimer’s Society South West's head of region, Marion Child said: “The cost of dementia care is too much for an individual to bear. It should be spread between us – just like schools, the NHS and other public services. Every party must go into this election with a solid plan to radically reform dementia care.”