Alzheimer Scotland welcomes the announcement from the Scottish Government that it will launch a public inquiry into the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic before the end of the year.
In November 2020, Alzheimer Scotland published the 'COVID-19: the hidden impact' report, looking into the impact of coronavirus on people with dementia, their families and carers who are living at home. The report, which was subsequently updated for Dementia Awareness Week, set out the evidence we gathered from the tens of thousands of people with dementia and their carers that we have supported throughout this crisis, about the impact of the pandemic, and the unintended harms to their health and wellbeing caused by the measures intended to keep them safe from the virus.
The effects of COVID-19 was devastating on the dementia community and it is vitally important the voices of people with lived experience are heard, valued and included in this process. The Government is now inviting views on how the inquiry should be handled from the public and other stakeholders. Alzheimer Scotland intends to provide a collective response including findings from the Hidden Impact report and other feedback that we have heard first-hand from those we have supported through the pandemic.
Alzheimer Scotland would encourage anyone with lived experience, including those bereaved during the pandemic, to submit their views by the end of September by emailing [email protected].