The number of people living with dementia has almost doubled across the globe in one generation, a new report has revealed.
Published on 8 June in The Lancet medical journal, analysis carried out as part of the Global Burden of Disease Study by the US-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation found there had been a 91.8 per cent increase in years lived with less than ideal health due to Alzheimer’s and other dementias between 1990 and 2013.
Previous research by the institute found that number of dementia deaths worldwide more than doubled over the same period, from about 795,000 in 1990 to nearly 1.7 million in 2013. In 1990, Alzheimer’s ranked 44th globally among causes of premature death but by it had risen to 29th.
Dr James Pickett, head of research at the Alzheimer’s Society said: “With an ageing population, dementia is fast becoming the biggest health and social care challenge of this generation. We will have over one million people living with dementia in the UK by 2021.”
At Palmers, our work often brings us into contact with people living with dementia and their families and we understand the far-reaching impact that the condition can have.
As part of our drive to provide the best possible client service, every member of our Older Client department has become a Dementia Friend, through an Alzheimer’s Society initiative that aims to change the way the UK as a nation thinks, talks and acts about the condition.
Partner Lee McClellan and associate solicitor Helen Jago also attended an event in March to promote the Southend Dementia Action Alliance, which is aiming to make Southend-on-Sea a dementia-friendly town.
Lee said: “The increasing incidence of dementia means that it is something all of us need to think about as part of our planning for later life.
“We can provide sensitive advice and practical support with issues including creating and registering Lasting Powers of Attorney, applications to the Court of Protection, protecting assets for family members in the event that long-term residential care is required, the provision and funding of such care and the financial or other abuse of older and vulnerable people. For more information, please contact us.”