Daughter's Sacrifice: Caring for Father with Dementia

Lesley Ritchie, 59, from Wilpshire in Lancashire, made the difficult decision to leave her HR manager role with the NHS in July 2025 to care for her father, Paul, 89. Her father received a dementia diagnosis in 2020, and his condition necessitates constant support.

The emotional and financial burden of caregiving has been significant for Lesley and her sister. "You think that will help but it just throws up other problems because there's obviously a financial impact on me, you then become isolated," Lesley shared, having initially gone part-time in April 2024.

Reflecting on the challenging nature of her role, Lesley described the heartbreak of watching a loved one decline. She also voiced her concerns about the care sector being "grossly under funded and not supported," emphasizing that unpaid carers significantly reduce the financial burden on the state.

In response, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson announced a funding boost of over £4.6 billion for the adult social care sector. This includes a new fair pay agreement for care workers and an increased carer's allowance earning limit. An independent review into adult social care is also being commissioned.