Confederación Española de Alzheimer (CEAFA) has issued a statement expressing disappointment that the Spanish Congress of Deputies has been unable to take forward recommendations on the reform of social policies and the system of care. The statement explains that the recommendations produced by the Commission for Reconstruction had not attracted sufficient political consensus and therefore would not be reflected in the future social care reforms. CEAFA notes this decision will have the greatest effect on older people and the most vulnerable in society, including people with dementia. It is further highlighted that this population group has experienced significant challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including:
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More than 19,000 older people having died in residential homes as a result of COVID-19 or symptoms related to the disease, with nursing homes have having become one of the main sources of infection
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The excess mortality rate in March and April 2020, for people receiving a service or benefit from the Dependency Care System, standing at 21,621 excess deaths (compared to the same period last year)
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The pandemic affecting the economic and labour field, exacerbating the complicated family and professional circumstances of informal caregivers.
Additionally, the statement highlights that families and caregivers are key to providing support for people with dementia, but are often affected by the consequences. It notes that the majority of informal caregivers are woman and aged over 50, with many informal carers partially or totally giving up their job during the period of caregiving. The average period spent providing care is nine years, with an average cost of caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease of EUR 35,000 per year.
In addition to referencing the commitment of the Spanish National Alzheimer's Plan, CEAFA noted that they had hoped lessons would be learned from the effect of the pandemic on people with Alzheimer's and dementia, including the importance of:
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Early diagnosis for dementia
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Adequate social and health coordination
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Strengthening of the care system
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Social protections of informal caregivers.
The statement concludes by noting that the measures proposed within the draft conclusions of the Social Policies and Care System Group were a starting point and that the lack of consensus among the political groups is a major obstacle to the development of a new social policy. The full statement of CEAFA can be read here:
