Census - surely they could anticipate the issues for those with dementia?

[LionRock]

Not really an AIBU, more are they BU rant. Should people with dementia be fined for not giving accurate info on their Census forms? The official status is "yes, but it's unlikely it'll happen".

So the Census is enough of a pain without trying to handle it for someone with dementia who lives alone and is likely to choose between:
(1) ignoring it
(2) opening it, thinking WTF when they see all the personal questions, and responding with something that'll land them the £1000 fine. (Seriously, you should see what the TV licensing people got when they sent a reminder!)

I just called the Census helpline and no, they didn't anticipate the issue at all. They did think about people who don't have good English language or who are visually impaired or deaf. But not mental disabilities. Yes the gov't do have lists of households solely occupied by "persons of reduced mental capacity" as it's a council tax status. Their helpful suggestion is that if the form isn't returned they'll send reminders and I should try to intercept the form. Or if no form's returned they'll send an enumerator round. Ha! They'll not get any accurate info if they are allowed in the house! Never mind though the Helpline person (who was actually nice enough, not her fault) said it's unlikely they'd prosecute if mental health issues can be proven. That'll be after lots of reminders etc that could have an adverse effect on the householder.

Note I'm not talking about a person with dementia who literally can't read / write / speak. More about the many who live alone, can function in many ways but would seem "a bit eccentric" about some things unless you knew their diagnosis or spent a lot of time with them.

This is why families set up powers of attorney etc - which the gov't should know about, it's in legislation - but they choose not to allow workarounds like sending the form to another address.

I just sent a rant to my local MP - this should have been anticipated blah blah.

OOh yes. Good point.
Howzabout special provision for the left handed, the one legged. the vegetarian and the wife beater.
Better stiull, let's lobby for champions on Parliament!

It's very surprising that they haven't got a contingency for this as it must happen every time there is a census.

Taking a purely practical view though the number of people who fall into that category isn't likely to be statistically significant so it won't invalidate the whole information gathering process.

there are census collectors....people to assist with forms

i'm a census enumerator and part of my job will be to fill out forms for those who can't do it themselves. I also will be delivering forms in other languages for those who request them.

can you kindly tell me how I answer the question about employment. I am a foster carer for a private agency?

Hi - I just did my training - I am census collector as well and they said you can't fill out the form for someone - you can help by reading out the form explaning etc. if someone has power of attorny they can fill in the form - or really anyone I think

the form will be out very soon if not already arrived

so for the op I would pop round and see if its there - you can do it online as well -

I will ask about this though when I see my line manager about what happens if they get no response but its clear they are not understand what is going on - can't imagine they would prosecute
Employment - childcare possibly?

The point is that the householder doesn't know the answers - so having a stranger come round and read / write for them isn't any help at all.

Lots of people with dementia can manage pretty well day to day but would be unable to tell you their address, DOB etc. They could find their house fine but not tell you the name of the street. So having an enumerator visit is not the answer.

What would help is if the form could be sent to someone else, rather than relying on the "someone else" to intercept the form from the householder's address. The original form has a unique ID which is needed to do online submission. So there's no way of adhering to the legal requirement without the original form.

Moondog I don't know if your response is meant to be sarcastic or if you misunderstand the situation. Dementia's a real impairment, it's not the same as your examples.

I am unable to 'breifly describe my job' in 34 letters.

briefly.

I didn't fill in the last census form because I couldn't be bothered and nothing happened to me, nothing at all.

there are 2 types if 'refusal' and one is with mitigating circumstances, which would essentially mean of course someone who is unable, which would cover a range of difficulties that couldnt be overcome with assistance, or unwilling due to reasonable circumstances (for example if someone was very recently bereaved) then they would not be compelled to complete the form, or prosecuted, of course if someone is refusing without a valid reason then that would be when it is referred to compliance officers.

Just a thought I think you can arrange to have someone visit if you have problems and collectors can give out new forms so could you arrange a visit to your relatives house when you were there maybe - if the original form gets lost.

I'm a support worker, helping people with learning disabilities to live 'independently'. They have no idea what a census is, nevermind what to do with it. some of the hide post or shred it/bin it straight away. As you can't force them to do this, then what are you meant to do!! Not that some of them would be able to understand what is being asked anyway. It is going to be a hell of a battle to try and sort out getting the census done for all of them so they do not get fined, when they do not understand that there is not a 'choice' about it.

The creators of the census form this time round have ZERO idea that people with reduced memory capabilities and learning disabilities even exist apparently!

Apparently only 38 people were prosecuted in 2001 for non-completion of their census form.

Perhaps you can arrange to be present when an enumerator can visit?

my dad has dementia, but since he doesn't recognise me and thinks it's 1949 I don't think there's much chance that he will be doing his census.

I Have Refused To Fill Out & Sign My Census Form Because If The Uk Doesn?t Recognise Me As A Father, It Doesn?t Recognise Me At All.