The total cost of dementia in the UK is £42 billion. It is estimated that 63% of these costs are shouldered by people with dementia and their families. The cost of dementia in the UK is set to rise to £90 billion a year by 2040 unless action is taken.

How much does dementia care cost in the UK? 

People living with dementia often face catastrophic care costs – under the current funding system, a person with dementia spends an average of around £100,000 on their care over their lifetime. Dementia can be complex and involve symptoms that need tailored support. This means care providers often charge a premium rate for dementia care. 

Dementia care is on average 15% more expensive to deliver than standard social care. This isn’t covered by the NHS, as many people might expect.

Increasing numbers of people living with dementia

There are currently around 1 million people living with dementia in the UK - this is projected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040. With dementia prevalence rising, it’s more important than ever than we get social care right once and for all. 

People affected by dementia form a significant proportion of those who draw on social care. A system that’s fairer for people living with dementia is better for everyone.

The care system must be backed up by long-term sustainable investment across the sector, underpinned by a funding model that is centred on achieving affordable care for everyone living with and affected by dementia.

Reforming the social care system for dementia

The current social care system is not set up properly to deliver care that meets the needs of people living with dementia or their families. There is hope for the future for dementia with disease-modifying treatments in development, but we must also focus on help for today and for those who will not be eligible for such drugs.

Our vision is for people living with dementia to be able to easily access affordable, high-quality social care that meets their specialist needs, delivered by a well-trained workforce. We want to see unpaid carers receive the statutory support to which they are entitled and to be able to take breaks through access to dementia-specific respite care.

Through investment and prioritisation in the right areas, we can make significant progress towards achieving this vision. 

Campaigning for improvements to social care for people living with dementia

Improving social care for people living with dementia and their carers is a priority for Alzheimer’s Society and we are calling on governments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to deliver these three things:

1. A well supported, professional social care workforce, trained in dementia.
2. More support for unpaid carers.
3. More investment and fairer funding. 

Get involved to help us call on governments for change

We rely on our campaigners to help us to get attention from people who can make meaningful change happen. Becoming a campaigner can involve signing and sharing our petitions, writing to your MP, or attending parliamentary events.

Together, we can make a difference to the lives of people living with dementia, their loved ones and carers in the UK.