Family fears bankruptcy over care costs

Brian Witherspoon has had to wait three months for an assessment by social services

The family of a man with Alzheimer's fear he is at risk of a dangerous fall, because he is having to wait months for a nursing home.

Brian Witherspoon, 86, from Bath moved to a residential home in March 2024 but carers say his risk of falling means he needs more specialist care.

He has had to wait three months for an assessment by social services and his step-daughter, Stephanie, said if an application for "continuing healthcare" funding is not successful, the family will have to find the excess themselves.

She said: ‘I think if we were to fund that we would be bankrupt and homeless."

Brian used to be a talented tap dancer and gymnast instructor

In the time they have been waiting for the assessment, Mr Witherspoon has had 12 falls that have been documented - one of which has resulted in a head injury.

He is one of a growing number of people with dementia who present one of the biggest funding challenges for NHS and social care.

Families like his have been contacting the BBC with their stories as part of our Your Voice Your Vote campaign.

Stephanie said: "It' s been a continual worry.

"We know we are one of thousands of families going through exactly the same struggle and upset and a change needs to be put in place.

"Adult care needs to be restructured, re-examined because it’s cruel."

'Shadow of his former self'

Mr Witherspoon was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2022 as well as an adrenal insufficiency, which is a life-threatening condition.

Ever since then his wife Sarah has been grieving for the man who used to be a talented tap dancer and gymnast as well as a trampolining instructor but she says is now a shadow of his former self.

"It's very upsetting for anybody to watch their relatives deal with Alzheimer's," Mrs Witherspoon said.

"I hung on to him for longer than they advised me to because I couldn’t bear to let him go."

Eventually Mr Witherspoon moved to a residential home in March 2024.

His carers now feel he needs to go a nursing home as he is at risk of falling.

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A report by the Alzheimers Society ( May 2024) says the current cost of dementia to the UK is forecast to be £42 billion in 2024, ( that’s almost a quarter of the total NHS budget (£198 billion) . And with the rise in dementia the society estimate it will cost £90 billion in 2040.

Stephanie believes the adult social care system needs to be restructured. She added: "Assessments needs to be done by those that are medically trained. That’s something that needs to be publicised as well."

The parties on social care

The Conservatives say they will press on with a planned £86,000 cap on social care costs for people who are older or disabled in England, from October 2025.

A Labour source has confirmed they “will not disrupt” these plans if they get into power. In their manifesto, Labour have pledged to form a National Care Service and will work towards longer-term reform of the care sector.

The Liberal Democrats have pledged to introduce free personal care to older and disabled people at home in England.

And so have the Greens with "free personal care" but their plans include an extra £20bn to tackle the crisis in adult social care through taxing the wealthiest more.

Reform’s main idea for adult social care in England is to set up a royal commission within the first 100 days of a new government.