Fairly good deal for people in care just needs a little more imagination

IT was Ronald Reagan, I think, who tried to laugh off the earlier stages of his Alzheimer’s disease by saying “the great thing about this condition is that you meet new people every day”. Sounds funny, doesn’t it. But when you’re actually in a position to witness the destruction of a once fine mind, somehow the humour disappears.

On these pages last week, Terry Prone wrote movingly about the condition too. I want to write about the public policy aspects of Alzheimer’s and dementia, so if I get personal for a minute, that’s only to declare an interest.

I’m waiting for an elderly relative to qualify for the Fair Deal scheme. There’s no reason this relative shouldn’t qualify – but if she doesn’t the result will be immensely difficult for an entire family. So it’s probably real begrudgery for me to point out that this isn’t a perfect scheme, but I’d be less than honest if I didn’t do so.