A wife who has seen her husband suffer through Alzheimer’s has put dementia care on the national agenda.

Gladys Archer, from Norley, is campaigning for better hospital support for those living with the disease.

Husband Les will never return home after his condition declined rapidly in a 10-day stay in hospital in November 2014.

He has been living with the dementia for more than a decade.

Gladys said: “After the catastrophic stay Les endured in hospital I was determined to do my utmost to make changes for all people who have dementia and have to go into hospital for an unrelated condition, such as a broken bone, chest infection or in my husband’s case, investigatory purposes.

“Although Les had Alzheimer’s for some nine years at that time, with the wonderful support and understanding from our family and friends, we were able to have a very full and active life together.

“As long as I was there, Les knew he was safe.

“However, that changed after the ten days Les spent in hospital, five of those days on an assessment ward where there was no appropriate care or facilities in place for him or for me to stay with him.

“The consequences of that stay resulted in Les having to go into a care home. He will never come home again.”

Gladys’s resolution for better hospital care has been chosen to become a national mandate by the National Federation of Women’s Institutes.

She said: “I was delighted when I heard the resolution had an overwhelming vote from delegates and was chosen to become a national mandate.

“Now the national public affairs team are making plans for all Women’s Institute members to work towards transforming hospital care for those with dementia if they have to go into hospital.

“It has been a long but very worthwhile journey. I am very grateful for the support and friendship I have had along the way.”

Gladys has worked with Norley WI, alongside Alzheimer’s Society and Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans.

Alzheimer’s Society operations manager for Cheshire and St Helens Jo Hawkins said: “Gladys has been a true inspiration for us locally.

“She is a woman who has gone the extra mile to try and make a positive difference for people affected by dementia.

“It’s amazing that Gladys gained the consensus of the WI nationally and their 212,000 members. We are really proud of her achievement. Her determination and resilience has paid off.”

Over the course of 2016, Alzheimer’s Society’s Fix Dementia Care campaign will look at the quality of care people with dementia receive in three key care settings: in hospital, in care homes and in the home.

Alzheimer’s Society is calling on people to back the effort by signing up at www.alzheimers.org.uk/fixhospitalcare .

If you have any concerns about dementia, call their helpline on 0300 222 11 22 or visit alzheimers.org.uk.