Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the behavioural and psychological symptoms of people with dementia have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have collaborated with the South East Clinical Delivery and Networks to publish guidance for primary care networks and care homes on dementia and older people’s mental health, which includes ways to recognise and support people experiencing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. They have also made guidance and resources available to address the rehabilitation needs of people living with dementia, including the ‘Dementia wellbeing in COVID-19’ resource.

We have commissioned research through the National Institute for Health Research on how to manage or mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on people with dementia and their carers living in the community and concise helpful summary leaflets were produced.

We will be setting out our plans on dementia for England for future years in due course.