Eleanor Roberts calls on the next Welsh Government to publish the new Dementia Strategy and build a future where people in Wales have access to world-class dementia care.
Dementia is now the leading cause of death in Wales. It remains a devastating condition for individuals and families and is one of the most urgent health challenges facing our nation. And the public agree – around 9 in 10 (88%) say the government needs to do more to help people living with dementia. With a Senedd election on the horizon now is the time for action.
With Welsh Government now consulting on the new Dementia Strategy for Wales, there is a critical opportunity to build a future where people in Wales have access to world-class dementia care.
One in three people born today in the UK will develop dementia in their lifetime.
We are calling on the next Welsh Government to publish the new Dementia Strategy which builds a future where people in Wales have access to world-class dementia care. Achieving this future will require decisive action from those in government, and strong accountability from those in opposition. Delivering real change for people affected by dementia must be a shared national priority.
Dementia is a priority for the public.
Dementia continues to stand out as an issue that people in Wales care deeply about, and our latest polling underlines just how strong that feeling is. In January 2026, we conducted a survey of over 1,000 adults living in Wales. This showed that there is a clear public mandate to make dementia the priority it needs to be.
- 60% say they would be more likely to vote for a Party that promised to increase funding for dementia – this was higher than cancer, mental health, heart disease and diabetes.
- 83% of people think that government should make dementia a national healthcare priority and 69% think it is overlooked or underfunded compared to other chronic conditions.
- 80% think that if governments put more effort or support into dementia, it would ease the burden on the health service.
- Just 13% think the government is doing enough to support people living with dementia.
The strength of public feeling shows that there is a clear mandate for the next Welsh Government to deliver the transformational change we know that people living with dementia need.
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Dementia is the greatest health and social care challenge of our time.
Dementia is the leading cause of death in England and Wales and has an enormous impact on our society, with 51,000 people living with dementia in Wales.
Dementia affects communities in every part of Wales.
One in three people born today in the UK will develop dementia in their lifetime. Dementia is the leading cause of death in England and Wales and has an enormous impact on our society, with 51,000 people living with dementia in Wales. This is projected to rise by 37% to almost 70,000 by 2040.
Just 57.2% of people living with dementia in Wales have a diagnosis, and diagnosis rates are even lower in rural areas, with Powys recording a diagnosis rate of just 48.5%. Wales needs to take action, to address the challenge of dementia head on and deliver targeted support to reduce variation across the nation.
Dementia affects individuals and families across Wales, but it also places significant and growing pressure on health services, social care and the wider economy. We know that dementia currently costs Wales £2.3 billion per year. With increasing prevalence, this is projected to rise to £4.6 billion by 2040.
This impact is also being felt by the health service. In primary care, dementia is accountable for around 918,000 contacts annually, and an additional 336,100 per year will be needed by 2040. In secondary care, 1 in 6 UK hospital beds are currently occupied by someone living with dementia. In Wales alone, dementia accounts for 410,000 bed days every year, rising to 560,000 within the next 15 years.
Early and accurate diagnosis and treatment is vital in supporting people with dementia to better manage their condition. Despite this, across the UK, the equivalent of just 1.4% of dementia healthcare costs are spent on diagnosis and treatment, while around a third is being spent on expensive and distressing unplanned hospital admissions.
Wales needs to take action, to address the challenge of dementia head on and deliver targeted support to reduce variation across the nation.
Not having a diagnosis also increases the need for emergency medical care: people with undiagnosed dementia are almost twice as likely to attend A&E than those with a dementia diagnosis. Where people are diagnosed early enough, our research showed that where existing symptomatic treatment is effective, delayed care home placement is estimated to save between £10,489 and £52,783 per person.
The next Dementia Strategy for Wales has the opportunity to ensure further progress by working with health boards, clinicians and communities to deliver timely and equitable diagnosis for everyone affected by dementia.
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What could the future look like for people living with dementia?
The principles for a new dementia strategy have been developed, consulted on, and can be progressed immediately after the election. With strong leadership, this strategy could be transformational, focusing on:
- Diagnosis and treatment: Supporting people to take control of their condition and live independently in their own homes for as long as possible, enabling families to have more time together and reducing unnecessary healthcare usage.
- Social care: Delivering social care which meets the needs of people living with dementia enabling them to live with dignity and respect.
- Governance and accountability: Facing the challenge of dementia head on and ensuring plans are turned into real world change.
With decisive action, Wales can move closer to a reality of ending the devastation caused by dementia and make real steps towards reducing related mortality and morbidity across Wales.
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