East Ayrshire Council to give dementia support for families

It was revealed at a meeting of the council’s cabinet, that some people with dementia have been forced to stay in hospital for up to six months while Power of Attorney is arranged with families or others taking on guardianship, if they don’t have the capacity to make decisions.

Councillors had been pushing for financial support to arrange Power of Attorney transfers early, understanding that it can be an expensive process that can prevent many taking action until it is too late.

East Ayrshire Council agreed to the support. (Image: East Ayrshire Council) With an ageing population, it was agreed to allocate £150,000 a year for the next four years to provide support as part of the council’s £40m Early Intervention and Prevention Fund.

SNP Councillor Clare Maitland, who has had first hand experience of the issue, made an emotional statement at the meeting.

She said: “Anyone who has been through the system who hasn’t had the power of attorney, my heart goes out to you. I went through the system with the power of attorney.

“What we are doing here, it just puts people at the centre of care. It is expensive to do it, but the knock-on effect of not doing it is so bad.

“We are looking at the flow of care through our hospitals. The flow starts with our GPs, with people [going to] hospital after being to their GP. Then the flow stops and when the flow stops, the care stops.

“People with dementia do not belong in hospital. We don’t belong in hospital when the decision has been made that we should leave.

“We hear about 22 people sitting there waiting for guardianships that can take up to six months.”

SNP councillor Clare Maitland. (Image: East Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership) She also referred to studies that have stated that every 10 days a person with dementia stays in hospital can be the equivalent of losing 10 years of their life.

“The deterioration is rapid and is horrible to watch. If they don’t get the proper care, they may well die in hospital.

“They are very uncomfortable conversations to have but they will help people.”

The report outlines that, between 2018 and 2028, the 75 and over age group is projected to increase by more than 25 per cent.

The leading cause of death for females, in East Ayrshire, in 2023 was Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, accounting for 10.4 per cent of all such deaths. This figure was 5.3 per cent for men.

For those who have a diagnosis, they receive a year’s post-diagnostic support. Post-diagnostic support helps individuals to understand their illness and plan for future support and decision-making.

The number of people referred for post-diagnostic support in East Ayrshire in 2021/22 was 224.

The report to councillors stated: “In East Ayrshire, Alzheimer’s Scotland are contracted to carry out this work. Having a Power of Attorney in place at the earliest possible stage in the illness enables people to plan for their future while they are still able to.

“It ensures that individuals do not spend lengthy periods of time in hospital while a Guardianship Order is being sought and brings peace of mind to the wider family.

“However, this can be unaffordable for many individuals with costs (at a minimum) of £320 per individual. Nobody automatically has the right to make decisions for another person unless they have granted a Power of Attorney in advance.

“This means that, although family members may be consulted about a person’s wishes, they cannot decide what should happen. If powers have not been granted in advance, and an individual loses the capacity to make their own decisions, then the courts must appoint a Guardian.

“There are processes by which family members can apply to be granted these
powers after someone has lost capacity, but this is a long and expensive process.”