Dementia group calls for more say in support

A LEADING dementia group has demanded an overhaul in the way that support is provided for people with the condition.

Alzheimer's Scotland called for more "choice and control" for sufferers and their families, and warned the status quo is "not an option".

The organisation launched a new report yesterday which backs sufferers and their families getting more control over direct payments from social work departments to organise more personalised support plans.

Chief executive Henry Simmons said: "Our findings add weight to the Scottish Government's drive towards self-directed support and point to a new way forward for dementia services.

"Improving access to personalised support, so that people with dementia and their families can have genuine choice and control, is the key to achieving the best possible outcome from both state and personal resources.

"Scotland must change its methods of community-based dementia care – remaining static is not an option."