§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) why it was decided to restrict care services for sufferers of Alzheimer's disease to those aged over 64 years;
(2) if he has any plans to introduce residential care services apart from elderly people's homes or acute psychiatric establishments for young people suffering from dementia;
(3) if he has any plans to introduce specialist day care facilities to sufferers from Alzheimer's disease below the age of 64 years;
(4) what plans he has to extend provision for care services for sufferers of Alzheimer's disease to all who have the disease.
§ Mr. DorrellGovernment policy in respect of people suffering from any form of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, is that a comprehensive range of services should be available locally. The objective is to enable sufferers to live in their own homes, with appropriate support for both them and their carers, for as long as is feasible, or in appropriate residential care.
It is for individual health and local authorities to determine the health and social needs of mentally ill people in their areas, including those suffering from dementia and, within existing resources, to provide services to meet those needs, including the needs of younger mentally ill people with Alzheimer's disease.