§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of Alzheimer's disease have been identified within Northern Ireland; how many sufferers are(a) hospitalised, (b) in residential/nursing homes and (c) being cared for by relatives; and whether he proposes to increase financial support for sufferers cared for by relatives in their own homes.
§ Mr. HanleyIt is estimated that about one in 10 of all people over age 65 in Northern Ireland suffers from 451W dementia. Of these, about 80 per cent. are affected by Alzheimer's disease with or without another condition. Thus approximately 15,500 people are likely to be affected by the disease. Information about the location of patients in hospital, residential or nursing homes or in the community is not available.
Attendance allowance and mobility allowance help people including Alzheimer's sufferers with the extra costs of being disabled provided they satisfy the relevant conditions. The introduction of disability living allowance in 1992 will extend help to people less severely disabled who at present do not qualify for attendance allowance or mobility allowance. In addition the carer premium payable to carers on income support or housing benefit will be increased from £10 to £10.80 a week from 8 April 1991, the date from which there will be a general benefits uprating.
The Government's policy on community care set out in "People First" aims to promote the development of a range of flexible and sensitive services in a variety of settings to meet the needs of vulnerable people. It recognises the valuable contribution that family, relatives and friends make to community care and aims to ensure that practical support for carers is accorded a high priority.