Southern Cross Healthcare – Alzheimer's Society comment - Alzheimer's Society

Southern Cross Healthcare – Alzheimer's Society comment

Published 1 June 2011

Southern Cross Heathcare has announced it will withhold a third of its rental payments over the next four months while it comes to a permanent solution to its financial situation, according to reports

The company, which has 750 care homes and 30,000 residents, recently reported half-year losses of £311m.  In total, a quarter of people with dementia live in care homes across the UK.

Alzheimer's Society comment:

'Today's announcement of a temporary solution to ensure residents in Southern Cross care homes can remain in their homes is good news. We estimate that 20,000 of the 30,000 people living in these care homes have dementia. The possibility that you might have to move home is unsettling for anyone, but for people with dementia it can be traumatising and threaten their health and well being. We urge all involved to reach a permanent solution soon so that people with dementia can have certainty about where they can call home.

'Across the wider landscape, the current system of funding social care is seriously failing people with dementia. It is vital the Dilnot Commission finds an alternative which no longer penalises people with the condition.'

Andrew Chidgey
Head of Policy and Public Affairs
Alzheimer's Society

via alzheimers.org.uk