Dementia patient numbers are set to soar in Yorkshire in next ten years

The report, which has been commissioned by Alzheimer’s Society from the London School of Economics and Political Science, states that 101,324 people are estimated to have dementia in Yorkshire and the Humber by 2030.

The figure is almost 37 per cent higher than the number of people who are currently suffering with the disease.

Judith King, Alzheimer’s society head of region for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “Dementia is heart-breaking for families. It’s not right that those going through it to have to battle to get the care they need on top of battling the disease.

“From the working mum struggling to find hundreds of pounds every week to ‘top up’ her mum’s council-funded care home place, to the woman who had to sell her home of 50 years to pay for her husband’s care – families affected by dementia are already at breaking point.”

The report predicts that as our population ages, a higher proportion of people with dementia will have higher care needs for longer, driving up the average amount spent on care and leaving families unable to cope.

It also shows more than 60 per cent of social care costs in England will fall on people with dementia and their families each year.

Previous research by Alzheimer’s Society has shown that someone with dementia will typically have to spend £100,000 on their care and many are forced to sell their homes to pay for it.

Judith King added: “With costs set to treble in the next two decades, how on earth will people cope?

“The cost of dementia care is too much for an individual to bear. It should be spread between us – just like schools, the NHS and other public services. Every party must go into this election with a solid plan to radically reform dementia care. Families in crisis need action, and they need it now.”

Visit alzheimers.org.uk for more information about the charity.