In Enschede a man with dementia has alerted the police after killing his 80-year-old wife who was caring for him, local newspaper Tubantia said on Thursday.

The public prosecution department is trying to assess if the man can be held accountable for his actions, the paper said. If not, he is likely to escape prosecution.

Home care organisations have warned several times that carers face both mental and physical abuse from the family members they are looking after.

‘Many carers try to keep officials out,’ said Marcel Garritsen, of the local home care association. ‘But taking care of dementia sufferers is very difficult and sooner of later they get into trouble. It is a growing problem.’

In addition, the Alzheimer’s organisation says home carers should have more support from specialised nursing staff. Research has shown 10% of people caring for a dementia sufferer faces abuse on a daily basis, the paper said.