THE number of under-65s in Scotland being treated for dementia has risen by one-third in the past six years, leading to further calls for a new law to widen free care services for younger patients.
The Frank’s Law campaign is named after former Dundee United footballer Frank Kopel, who died aged 65 six years after being diagnosed with dementia but did not qualify for free personal care because of his age.
His widow, Amanda, set up the campaign in a bid to ensure other families avoid facing financial hardships in addition to coping with the effect of the disease on loved ones.
Across Scotland, the number of people under 65 being treated for dementia is increasing each year and rose from 777 in 2014/15 to 808 in 2015/16.
Among those treated in 2015/16 were four patients aged between 15 and 29, nine between 30 and 39 and a total of 43 aged between 40 and 49.
In addition, there were 85 patients aged between 50 and 54, 228 between 55 and 59 and 439 between 60 and 65.
Long-term conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and dementia are the greatest challenge facing the NHS as the population ages and the effects of obesity hit hard. Already, two million people in Scotland have at least one long-term condition. These account for 80 per cent of GP appointments.
The proportion of over-75s is also due to grow by 60 per cent over the next 20 years, signalling a looming crisis unless frontline care is overhauled.
Alan MacKinnon, director of The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Scotland described this dilemma as a “frightener”.
RPS Scotland has called for pharmacists to be more involved in early detection and prevention of long-term conditions, and cut the need for “significant medical interventions and hospital admissions in the longer term”.
But the Scottish Conservatives have pointed to the increasing prevalence of dementia within younger patients as they backed the Frank’s Law campaign.
Scottish Conservative mental health spokesman Miles Briggs said: “Even though people in those age groups make up a minority of the total cases, we are still talking about hundreds of people receiving treatment each year, and that number is rising.
“Frank’s Law campaigners have worked hard to ensure politicians are acutely aware of the challenges faced by those who are struck by dementia at an unusually young age.
“We now need to take that on and ensure this is put into legislation, and I hope the Scottish Government enables that to happen.”
Health Secretary Shona Robison said the Government “will continue to take action to make the system fairer” and had already invested £6 million to increase the income threshold at which someone became liable for charges.
She said: “From April 1, 2017, armed forces veterans will have income from war pensions disregarded from social care financial assessments.
“We are transforming the way we treat dementia so more people have their independence for longer and working towards greater supported self-management at home.”
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