Rehabilitation services must restart urgently after an ‘alarming and dramatic’ increase in dementia deaths followed cuts to care packages and the withdrawal of some health services under lockdown, a leading social care representative body has said.

Scottish Care CEO Dr Donald Macaskill says many people who have dementia, and their families, were left “isolated and fearful” by social restrictions and the pausing of some health and social care services.

A dementia recovery plan, published yesterday by the Scottish government, acknowledged that lockdown restrictions meant many dementia sufferers had “deteriorated more quickly than would normally be expected”.

Earlier in the year charity Age Scotland called for an investigation into “extremely concerning” excess deaths that included a steep rise in people dying with dementia at the height of the pandemic.

Dr Macaskill told healthandcare.scot families and informal carers were placed under “massive pressure” by health and social care service reductions.

He said: “I recognise that for many people living with dementia and their families, the effects of the pandemic have been devastating with limited access to services, including post-diagnostic support, in the community.

“The withdrawal of packages of care left many isolated and fearful, and placed massive pressure on family and informal carers. All of this has had a profound impact on the quality of life of thousands and sadly the statistics showing a dramatic increase in excess deaths of those living with dementia in the community are alarming.”

The Scottish government’s plan promises Scots living with dementia and their loved ones greater access to support services, including access to government-funded NHS mental health services and counselling support through the charity Alzheimer Scotland for unpaid carers.

The Scottish Care CEO added: “One area which must be prioritised is the importance of rehabilitation. Many individuals both in care homes and in our community have deteriorated because of a lack of access to health and social care services alongside restrictions on their own activities and relationships with family.

“This needs to urgently change, and we need to prioritise rehabilitation supports. As soon as is practicable and safe, we need to return to the levels of support we saw before – both in day opportunities, care homes and the community.

“We urgently need to see greater investment in local rehabilitation supports not least through our Allied Health Professional colleagues.

“The last nine months have been horrendous for many people living in our care homes and their families. The majority are living their lives with dementia. Our focus through this plan and into 2021 needs to be on ensuring that they remain our central concern.

“To achieve positive outcomes, we must all work better to enable those living with dementia to be involved and included in key decisions about their lives.”

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