Dementia is on the increase

HALF of Scotland’s care home residents now have dementia – 22 per cent more than in 2003.

Experts say the increase is down to people living longer and better diagnosis of a condition that affects a patient’s mental agility.

The Care Home Census 2012, published yesterday revealed 19,233 of the 37,335 residents (51 per cent) have dementia.

The number of short stay and respite care residents increased from 750 in 2007 to over 1,080 in 2012 – an increase of 
44 per cent.