A clear national pathway of care for dementia

Right now, decisions about dementia care are being made locally, and that means the support people receive can vary hugely depending on where they live. In one area, someone might have access to day care, post-diagnostic support, and regular respite while just a few miles away, those same services have been cut or don’t exist at all. There’s no national standard for what care should look like, and no clear pathway that guarantees support through every stage of dementia. This creates a postcode lottery where some people get the help they need and others are left with nothing. That’s unfair, and it needs to change.

For other major health conditions like cancer, heart disease and diabetes, Scotland already has clear national care pathways. These guarantee timely diagnosis, consistent treatment, and specialist support no matter where someone lives.

On top of that, vital community services that support tens of thousands of people living with dementia and their families and carers are being cut across the country. The devastating decisions to cut these services are being made behind closed doors, with no public consultation and no voice for the people most affected.

We believe every person with dementia in Scotland deserves:

• Access to quality, local support throughout every stage of their condition
• A clear, national care pathway, not a postcode lottery
• The same priority in the health system as people living with other major illnesses

Our Dementia Care Pathway Guarantees outline the services and support that we believe should be available for people with dementia and their carers, ensuring they receive well-timed, effective care throughout the progression of the condition.

This election, we’re calling on parties and candidates to stop the cuts, protect dementia services, and build a national, consistent standard of care that ends the postcode lottery for good.

Our Care Pathway Guarantees outline the services and support that must be available for people with dementia and their carers, to ensure well-timed, effective care throughout the progression of the condition for everyone, every time.