Rural dementia care discussed at National Assembly meeting

Plaid Cymru Assembly Members met with charity Alzheimer’s Society
Cymru in the National Assembly to discuss the future of dementia care
in rural Wales.

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Rhun ap Iorwerth
said:

“At last year’s Royal Welsh Show, I helped launch the
Alzheimer’s Society report on delivering dementia care in rural
Wales, but very little seems to have happened since to suggest
Government has taken that report’s good ideas on board. Simon and I
will continue to work with the Society to ensure that the needs of
rural Wales are genuinely reflected in Government policy and action.
Dementia care isn’t ‘one size fits all’.”

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Plaid Cymru Mid and West
AM Simon Thomas commented:

“The challenges that are experienced by those with dementia in
rural parts of the country are often heightened by a fundamental lack
of services designed to tackle it.

“I am grateful for the work of Alzheimer’s Society Cymru, through
the lived experiences from those affected, which is of a critical
importance in highlighting the pitfalls in transport, support services
and general public awareness – ensuring that things cannot continue
the way they are.

“I will be raising these issues with the Labour Government and
relevant County Councils to echo the concerns of the Society I am
particularly concerned by the lack of provision of residential nursing
beds.”

Sue Phelps, Country Director for Wales added:

“Alzheimer’s Society Cymru is campaigning for a better deal for
people affected by dementia living in rural areas. We are grateful to
Simon Thomas AM and Rhun ap Iorwerth AM for their time in speaking
with us about the issues people are facing and look forward to working
together to ensure the Welsh Government’s new dementia strategy will
deliver tangible improvements for people affected by dementia across
rural communities in Wales.”