The Costs of Caring for People with Dementia and Related Cognitive Impairments

pleased to present this study on the economic, social and personal costs of caring for people with dementia. The National Council on Ageing and Older People has undertaken a programme of research into dementia in Ireland. Following a request from the then Minister for Health to consider ways in which services for people with dementia and their carers might be improved, An Action Plan for Dementia was published in 1999. An Action Plan for Dementia provided a framework for the provision and planning of services for people with dementia in Ireland. The Costs of Caring for People with Dementia and Related Cognitive Impairments is a complementary report to the Action Plan but with a more quantitative focus. The role of carers is one that is often taken for granted and is seen by many as a free resource. Dr O’Shea explores what caring for a person with dementia entails in terms of the carers time, finances and stress. Evaluating the cost of caring for a person with dementia is the main focus of this study. As the report notes, it is wrong to assume that caring for a person with dementi