More than 100,000 Brits forced to quit jobs to care for relative with dementia

Some 112,00 Brits were forced to quit their jobs last year to care for a relative with dementia – and a further 147,000 had to cut their hours.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research reckons this cost the English economy £3.2billion and says it will hit £6.3billion by 2040.

And the social care crisis has left at least 1.4 million sufferers with an “unmet need”, often unable to do basic tasks. This has doubled since 2010.

Jeremy Hughes, Alzheimer’s Society CEO said: “Families are often failing to get the good quality care loved ones need.

"It’s devastating for people with dementia, devastating for families, a drain on the NHS and badly affecting our economy”.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research reckons this cost the English economy £3.2billion and says it will hit £6.3billion by 2040 (file pic) (Getty)

He called for “a minimum standard of care for all with dementia where everyone gets quality care based on need”.

The Government insisted: “We work with employers to promote carer-friendly, flexible jobs and better access to advice and support.”

And the social care crisis has left at least 1.4 million sufferers with an “unmet need”, often unable to do basic tasks (file pic) (Getty)

Numbers in the UK with dementia are set to hit two million by 2050.

• A US study found over-70s who had a beer or wine a day were 37% less likely to get dementia.