YOU can help send a powerful message by demanding an end to the crippling dementia care costs 

The Daily Mail today urges its readers to send a powerful message to the new prime minister by demanding an end to the dementia care crisis.

We have started a petition aimed at forcing the Government to end the disgraceful neglect of families living with the burden of dementia.

The Mail is calling for urgent reform of the broken care system which leaves families having to sell their homes to pay for crippling care costs. 

We are also demanding an end to the disgraceful divide which means care home residents who pay their own bills face charges £21,000 higher than those funded by the taxpayer.

The petition is being fronted by reader Sharon Muranyi, who was forced to sell her 92-year-old war veteran father Fred’s beloved thatched cottage to pay for dementia care

After selling the cottage to foot the care costs, Mrs Muryani is urging people to back the Mail's campaign and sign the petition 'so the Government realises the scale of the problem'

After selling the cottage to foot the care costs, Mrs Muryani is urging people to back the Mail’s campaign and sign the petition ‘so the Government realises the scale of the problem’

Since our campaign launched on Wednesday, both Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson have spoken out about the need for reform to social care, as have dozens of MPs from all parties. 

We are asking readers to sign our petition, which launches today, to ensure the dementia crisis is top of the political agenda when the new prime minister takes office on Wednesday.

The petition is being fronted by reader Sharon Muranyi, who was forced to sell her 92-year-old war veteran father Fred’s beloved thatched cottage for £373,000 last year to pay for his dementia care.

Mrs Muranyi, 59, said last night: ‘I urge all Daily Mail readers to sign this petition. We need as many signatures as possible so the Government realises the scale of the problem.

‘It must be at the top of the agenda as soon as the next prime minister walks into Downing Street.

‘Thousands of families are suffering from pain and distress because of the dementia care crisis. The Government cannot allow it to go on any longer.’

The petition was launched the day after Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson insisted no one should be forced to sell their home to fund dementia care

The petition was launched the day after Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson insisted no one should be forced to sell their home to fund dementia care

The petition is also calling for the urgent formation of a cross-party group to tackle the crisis and a new NHS ‘dementia fund’ to help families pay the extra cost.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: ‘We encourage everyone to sign the Daily Mail’s Dementia Care Petition – we need to put older people’s minds at rest.

‘We have heard and continue to hear of older people haunted by the fear of running out of money to fund their care, of having to sell up during their lifetimes, or of being able to get only inadequate care. Their concerns are very real and they make life miserable.’

The petition was launched the day after Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson insisted no one should be forced to sell their home to fund dementia care.

Mr Johnson vowed to find a cross-party solution to the dementia care scandal if he becomes prime minister next week.

He said: ‘It is a crisis in our country. We need to find new systems of meeting those costs, but do it in a way that has cross-party support. The more politicised this becomes, the less chance of a solution.’

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: 'We encourage everyone to sign the Daily Mail's Dementia Care Petition – we need to put older people's minds at rest'

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: ‘We encourage everyone to sign the Daily Mail’s Dementia Care Petition – we need to put older people’s minds at rest’

His comments came as trade unions and MPs from across the political spectrum pledged to stop treating the social care crisis as a ‘political hot potato’.

Sir Ed Davey, candidate for the Liberal Democrat leadership, said: ‘It’s time for politicians on all sides to come together and tackle this issue head-on. 

‘This crisis is only going to worsen – we’ve got to get a grip on it now, and fast.’

Sally Copley, from the Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘With decisive action, the new prime minister has it in their power to end this care crisis once and for all. 

‘With over 180 MPs backing Alzheimer’s Society’s call for urgent action, we’ve demonstrated cross-party support to tackle dementia care is alive and kicking.

Sir Ed Davey, candidate for the Liberal Democrat leadership, said: 'It's time for politicians on all sides to come together and tackle this issue head-on'

Sir Ed Davey, candidate for the Liberal Democrat leadership, said: ‘It’s time for politicians on all sides to come together and tackle this issue head-on’

‘We know from our campaigning, and from the overwhelming response to the Daily Mail’s campaign, that the public are angry and won’t be fobbed off with further delays.’

The Mail’s campaign has been supported by MPs of all parties and trade unions GMB and Unison, which is the country’s largest trade union and has 1.4million members, including half a million health care workers.

Last night, Unison assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: ‘This requires all hands on deck from across the Government and there are no easy fixes. But the problem can no longer be ignored.’ 

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