Farron brings national dementia inquiry to South Lakeland

10.18.00am GMT Tue 24th Mar 2009

Tim Farron was one of the MPs leading a national inquiry into the lack of adequate training for care home staff working with people with dementia. The Alzheimer's Society, who supported the Inquiry, last week revealed that one in three care homes are not providing adequate training for staff to care for people with dementia.

The inquiry took the form of two half day evidence sessions last week which examined the current standard of care available for dementia sufferers in the UK. Mr Farron highlighted the importance of providing the highest level of care for people with dementia. The inquiry heard from care home owners, relatives of people with dementia and inspectors. The Alzheimer's Society, who supported the Inquiry, last week revealed that one in three care homes are not providing adequate training for staff to care for people with dementia.

The Alzheimer's Society estimates that there are 575,000 people in England with dementia but only 220,000 of these are known to their GPs - leaving over 355,000 without access to drugs, treatment or other specialist assistance. In South Lakeland that means 750 have dementia and need high quality expert support.

Mr Farron said: "We really need to bring in stronger regulatory framework to make sure we protect the most vulnerable in society. We also need to make sure that we offer better training and pay care workers a decent wage to ensure that people who have dementia are cared for with the greatest level of skill, respect and dignity."