Carer's plea to 'get on with' social care reform

A full-time carer is calling for politicians to "get on with it" and sort out the social care system.

Paul Kemp cares for his wife Sandra, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's at the age of 52.

Kemp, from Rochester in Kent, said he would like to meet Prime Minister Andy Burnham. "I would love for that man to come and knock my door and sit down and have a proper chat with me," he said. "I understand he's had the same sort of connection, so he's got a good understanding, but we can share stories and he'd know where to go."

The Department of Health and Social Care said the prime minister had made it clear the government would "deliver a fully funded National Care Service".

Burnham has made reforming social care one of his flagship policies and has spoken of the experience of his father Roy, who had Alzheimer's and died in September.

Kemp said his wife's diagnosis had "destroyed" their lives, and said it was "tough", with her needing care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"Sandy's regression has been quite severe," he said. "She's non-vocal. I have to do everything for her, like her feeding and everything. She's doubly incontinent now."

He described it as "such a shame" because she had been "such a loving, caring person".

"She was a carer herself," he added.

Speaking about his concerns over social care he called on Parliament to take a serious look at it and for MPs to stop "slapping their chops together with a few words and not doing anything about it".

He said the care system, including the financial side, needed "a proper look at".

"For someone like myself and Sandy, it's never worked," he said.

Calling on the PM to address the issue quickly, his message to Burnham was: "Come talk to me. I'll tell him exactly what's wrong with the care system."

Lorna Robertson, a regional manager working with Alzheimer's Society, said some of the challenges for people in Kemp's position included social isolation a couple's relationship changing from a married couple into a caring one.

"Particularly with younger people with dementia, the challenges are so much more apparent, such as trying to find age appropriate support is really difficult," Robertson said.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said too many people were being "let down" by the social care system.

"The Prime Minister has been clear: this government will deliver a fully funded National Care Service, with free personal care for older people based on need, not ability to pay," they added.

"This will end decades of drift, with a clear plan to fix the system so that people can receive the dignity and security they need."

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