The Alzheimer Society of Ireland has warned the Government that further funding cuts to its services in the coming Budget will see some of the 44,000 people living with dementia and their 50,000 carers left without even basic support though community services.

The charity made its call at the launch of its Pre-Budget Submission 2011 as it revealed that many carers are now at crisis point as figures show waiting lists for dementia services have shot up by 33% in the last year. Meanwhile, an Alzheimer Society of Ireland survey showed that 68% of carers believe the Government’s action on dementia is poor.

While the charity fully recognises the current economic situation, it pertains that ignoring the crisis now will have huge financial consequences for the Government as demands for long term care will inevitably increase.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Pre-Budget Submission also reveals the harsh impact cuts will have on some of the most vulnerable people in society. It outlines that for every €18,500 cut from existing HSE funding a total of four people with dementia and their carers will lose their service AND one Alzheimer Society of Ireland job will be lost.

Alzheimer Society of Ireland supporters took this message to the gates of the Dail during the launch of the charity’s Pre-Budget Submission as carers called on the Government to help the tens of thousands of people living with dementia in Ireland.

The charity has worked with Health Economist Dominic Trepel of University of Limerick who presented a report at the charity’s event which outlines the economic case for urgent investment in dementia services in Ireland.

The new report is entitled “An economic perspective of dementia care in Ireland” and points out the critical need for more community services. The report also highlights that Ireland spends only half the OECD average on dementia services despite the fact that it is predicted our country faces the largest growth of dementia of all European countries in the coming decades.

Dominic Trepel said: “The economic cost of dementia ranks higher than stroke, heart disease and cancer combined. However, health care allocations for dementia continue to be substantially lower than each of these individual disease groups.”

He said: “With over reliance on carers in Ireland, burnout of carers represents a significant and immediate threat to healthcare costs. For example, should those carers of approx 30% of people on Alzheimer Society waiting lists reach burnout, the state could potentially be facing at least €12m in costs for providing additional residential care services in 2011.”

“My report shows the cost-effectiveness of supporting carers through home care relief and day care relief and other community services. Dementia caregivers who can access these services can care for longer, which is what they dearly want to do; this ultimately acts to lower health care costs and reduce the need for long term beds.”

A recent national survey of family carers found that two in three carers are caring alone for more than 12 hours per day, and 3 in 4 reported feeling stressed and overwhelmed on a regular basis. In addition almost 45% of family carers have had to give up their job - or significantly reduce their hours of work - in order to care for their loved one.

The charity warns that if the Government does not take immediate action to address the hidden health crisis of dementia, Ireland will face a much worse crisis in the future as the country has an ageing population. In the next 16 years alone the amount of people living with dementia will increase from 44,000 today to 70,115 in 2026.

Alzheimer Society of Ireland CEO Maurice O’Connell said: “The Alzheimer Society of Ireland fully recognises the challenges of the current economic situation and its impact on the state and its citizens. However, we are acutely aware of the increasing numbers of people affected by dementia, their growing health and social care needs and the cost to the state if waiting lists are not cleared.”

He added:” Dementia is a disease that affects at least one family in every street around the country. We must act now to plan for the future. I firmly believe that the argument for our Pre-Budget demands for 2011 is not just a moral one but importantly an economic one too.”

For more information visit: www.alzheimer.ie