OWNERS of a Honiton residential home for people with dementia have backed a new survey which says care homes need to improve their approach for sufferers of the illness.

OWNERS of a Honiton residential home for people with dementia have backed a new survey which says care homes need to improve their approach for sufferers of the illness.Paul Walsh, who runs Gittisham Hill Park, welcomed the findings of the survey, which assessed 6,000 care homes in the UK He says homes must go a step further and tailor the care to the individual, not just the condition. He said: "Bespoke care is vital. Dementia affects different people in different ways creating individual needs." The survey, by Laing and Buisson, comes as new figures show the number of people in Britain with dementia is expected to more than double to 1.7 million by 2051. Although ministers pledged action in their dementia strategy published earlier this year, Laing and Buisson said there were still serious gaps in provision. Paul added: "I'm delighted that this issue has been forced into the public eye and that Prince Charles has thrown his weight behind the call for more focus on dementia.