A new report by the Alzheimer's Society today (Thursday 17
November) warns that people with dementia are not reaping the
benefits of personal budgets due to a lack of information and
knowledge among social care professionals and tightening
eligibility criteria.
According to a survey conducted by the charity, three in five
people with dementia assessed as eligible for social care were not
offered a personal budget, while 15% declined an offer of one.
The charity has identified several barriers to people getting a
personal budget:
- A lack of information and support for users and carers in
managing personal budgets
- Rising eligibility thresholds meaning that people only access
social care at crisis point
- A lack of knowledge amongst social care professionals about how
personal budgets can work for people with dementia
Recommendations include councils commissioing tailored support
services to help people with dementia make the most of personal
budgets, providing information highglighting their benefits and
improving staff training.
A copy of the report can be downloaded here.
Commenting on the report, Martin Routledge, head of operations
for In Control, said: "The findings of this report are welcomed by
In Control. It gives a very useful insight into the barriers that
people with dementia are facing when trying to access personal
budgets and makes good recommendations on how improvements can be
made. It is clear that people with dementia need a much more
significant focus when it comes to the personalisation agenda and
this is something that In Control strongly advocates."
In Control is currently working with Alternative Futures Group
and Helen Sanderson Associates to develop a piece of work around
providers personalising their services for people with
dementia.
For further information on this work, please contact Martin
Routledge at martin.routledge@in-control.org.uk
Last Updated : 17 November 2011. Page Author: Laura Bimpson.
