PM says his mother may have faced unbearable strain in caring for his father

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has spoken of how his mother may have had to cope with an “unbearable” burden as the focus was on his father, who was suffering with dementia.

Unpaid carers, such as his mother Eileen, who had looked after his father Roy, should get more support and appreciation, according to Mr Burnham.

His father, who suffered with Alzheimer’s, died in September, aged 85, and his illness meant he did not know his son had become Prime Minister.

Mr Burnham is backing the Daily Mail’s carers campaign and told the newspaper the emotional impact on his mother during his father’s illness may have been overlooked and the family may have waited too long before moving him into a care home.

He told the newspaper: “From what I experienced, the emotional toll is a burden that is unbearable. The weight is unbearable – it gets too big.

“I know that will ring true for some of your readers who are going through this experience.

“I saw it directly – I saw my mum sinking under the size of that weight.’

He added: “Me and my brothers have spoken about this – there was a tendency to focus on the person with dementia and miss some of what was going on around, and particularly the impact of carrying that daily burden on my mum.

“The country is dependent upon people who are caring for partners, loved ones, unpaid and we’ve got to see them, recognise them, hear them when they say that I need more to make this sustainable.”

His family may not have properly taken on board the strain his mother was dealing with as they tried to keep his father out of a care home for as long as possible, the newspaper reports.

Mr Burnham told the Daily Mail: “And I think because of that feeling that we had – and because perhaps we were looking at my dad all the time, not necessarily looking at my mum – I think it took possibly too long to make that decision.

“Credit to the care home when my dad did go in – they were great, and they did a really good job and it was the right option in that situation.

“But it was a tough journey.”

Under the Dementia Carers Together campaign, delivered in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, relatives and friends of people living with the illness could get new nationwide six-week courses to help them handle the situation they face.

Carers would be in line for sessions providing support and information about their rights and available services.

Michelle Dyson, the Alzheimer’s Society chief executive, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Prime Minister for opening up about his own family’s experience and backing our Dementia Carers Together Appeal.

“No one caring for someone with dementia should be left to struggle without the support they need.

“Dementia Carers Together will give carers vital advice, support and the chance to connect with others who understand. We hope people across the country will join the Prime Minister in supporting the appeal so we can reach more families when they need us most.”