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| Dementia group funding runs out | Dementia group funding runs out |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A project to support people in their 50s and 60s who have dementia faces closure when it loses its funding next month. | A project to support people in their 50s and 60s who have dementia faces closure when it loses its funding next month. |
| The Alzheimer's Society group, which meets in Cardiff, helps about 50 patients and carers who have early onset of Alzheimer's disease. | The Alzheimer's Society group, which meets in Cardiff, helps about 50 patients and carers who have early onset of Alzheimer's disease. |
| Those affected are "devastated". | Those affected are "devastated". |
| Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has decided not to cover its funding, but say they are committed to developing services in the future | Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has decided not to cover its funding, but say they are committed to developing services in the future |
| Katie Norton, director of primary, community and mental health services, at the local health board (LHB), said they were aware the lottery funding, which has supported the Alzheimer's Society posts, comes to an end in March 2010. | |
| "We realise how valuable this work has been and, not withstanding this very difficult position, I wish to reconfirm our commitment to working with the society to support the development and delivery of services for the future," she said. | "We realise how valuable this work has been and, not withstanding this very difficult position, I wish to reconfirm our commitment to working with the society to support the development and delivery of services for the future," she said. |
| If this facility went it would be a catastrophe for all the people who use it Alan Furst who has dementia | If this facility went it would be a catastrophe for all the people who use it Alan Furst who has dementia |
| Alison Holmes, whose father Alan Furst, 66, a former financial consultant, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at 57, said they were both "devastated" by the decision. | Alison Holmes, whose father Alan Furst, 66, a former financial consultant, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at 57, said they were both "devastated" by the decision. |
| She said the project was "invaluable", helping her father to get out and keep active and socialise. | She said the project was "invaluable", helping her father to get out and keep active and socialise. |
| She said: "I'm devastated. I've spoken to my dad and he's devastated. He always looks forward to his visits from a befriender. | She said: "I'm devastated. I've spoken to my dad and he's devastated. He always looks forward to his visits from a befriender. |
| "They go out, they walk, they laugh, they do everything that he enjoys doing. | "They go out, they walk, they laugh, they do everything that he enjoys doing. |
| Alzeheimer's patient Alan Furst said the scheme was an essential part of his day-to-day life | Alzeheimer's patient Alan Furst said the scheme was an essential part of his day-to-day life |
| "That type of service isn't available anywhere else, and after he's been out with his befriender, you can noticeably see the difference it's made to him. He's able to hold a better conversation, he's relaxed, socially he's much better." | "That type of service isn't available anywhere else, and after he's been out with his befriender, you can noticeably see the difference it's made to him. He's able to hold a better conversation, he's relaxed, socially he's much better." |
| Her father added: "If this facility went it would be a catastrophe for all the people who use it." | Her father added: "If this facility went it would be a catastrophe for all the people who use it." |
| Karen Collins, a development officer with the Alzheimer's Society, said she will be very sad if the project comes to an end. | Karen Collins, a development officer with the Alzheimer's Society, said she will be very sad if the project comes to an end. |
| "We've got involved with about 50 families now, quite well involved in their lives and just to walk away from it its going to be awful now | "We've got involved with about 50 families now, quite well involved in their lives and just to walk away from it its going to be awful now |
| She went on: "There is nothing to replace it in terms of a specialist dementia service. | She went on: "There is nothing to replace it in terms of a specialist dementia service. |
| "Unfortunately at the time the Welsh dementia plan is about to be launched. It's taking away something when we should be expanding on the services. | "Unfortunately at the time the Welsh dementia plan is about to be launched. It's taking away something when we should be expanding on the services. |
| "It definitely is short-sighted, this very small investment will save on social services down the line." | "It definitely is short-sighted, this very small investment will save on social services down the line." |
| A Big Lottery Fund spokesperson said: "In terms of continuation funding our guidance under our People and Places programme is that we will only fund existing work and activities if they include new or enhanced elements. | A Big Lottery Fund spokesperson said: "In terms of continuation funding our guidance under our People and Places programme is that we will only fund existing work and activities if they include new or enhanced elements. |
| "For example, we may support applications that seek to work in a new or expanded geographical area, if it works with new groups of people or if the project will deliver a new range of services or activities in addition to current work." | "For example, we may support applications that seek to work in a new or expanded geographical area, if it works with new groups of people or if the project will deliver a new range of services or activities in addition to current work." |
| Meanwhile, a report seen by the BBC says dementia now costs the UK economy twice as much as cancer but gets a fraction of the funding to find causes and cures. | |
| For every one pound spent on dementia research, 12 times that sum goes on investigating cancer, figures from the Alzheimer's Research Trust indicate. |