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On April 20th, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI)
in Association with AIB Macroom hosted a Dementia Friendly Community Information evening in the Castle Hotel, Macroom, County Cork. People living with Dementia are among the most marginalised, socially excluded and highly stigmatised. To address the exclusion of People living with Dementia, a new initiative has emerged on the landscape in the form of Dementia Friendly Communities.
The evening encouraged businesses, community services along with People living with Dementia and their families in Macroom to create a more accessible environment for the area where People living with Dementia feel included and involved, and have choice and control over their day-to-day lives. The evening featured speakers such as The ASI Head of Operations, Siobhan O’Connor, The ASI Operations Project Manager, Donal Murphy, The ASI Dementia Adviser for West Cork, Vanessa Bradbury, and The Chair of the Irish Dementia Working Group (IDWG) Kevin Quaid.
The ASI spoke with the large attendance about how the community can work together to make the Macroom area a better place to live for People living with Dementia and their families. Taking action is the most important part of any Dementia Friendly Community and an initial action plan has been produced to identify what the priorities should be. We are delighted to also announce that 7 local people have agreed to be Leaders for the Macroom area. Along with support from The ASI, the Leaders will encourage the community to make progress and can coordinate the activities. The ASI was very pleased to see such robust support from attendees during the evening.
The Dementia Friendly Communities initiative contains various resources that will support organisations, businesses and communities to be more informed and enabled to support People living with Dementia and their loved ones to stay living well. It contains knowledge that provides a practical framework based on The ASI’s experiences in helping communities to work towards becoming more dementia friendly.
An estimated 7,509 people are living with dementia in Cork, and 63% of people with dementia live in the community in Ireland.
Speaking after the event, the Head of Operations at The ASI, Siobhan O’Connor, said:
I was thrilled to see such support throughout the evening. Evenings like this allow us to break down the stigma associated with talking about Dementia and allow us to take a greater step towards more dementia-inclusive communities in Ireland. I’d like to thank AIB Macroom, and everyone who attended tonight. You’re making such a difference in the lives of People of living with Dementia and their families. As a Macroom native, it brings me such pride to see my hometown embrace our mission.
Vice-Chair of the Irish Dementia Working Group, Kevin Quaid, said:
I am delighted to be part of a campaign that makes communities dementia friendly and dementia inclusive, it is so important for People living with Dementia to know that they are safe and understood in their communities.
People can learn more about The ASI’s Dementia Inclusive Community initiative at http://ow.ly/PMXC50NIepE.
About The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI):
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is the leading dementia-specific service provider in Ireland. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland works across the country in the heart of local communities providing dementia-specific services and supports and advocating for the rights and needs of all people living with dementia and their carers. Our vision is an Ireland where people on the journey of dementia are valued and supported. A national non-profit organisation, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland advocates, empowers and champions the rights of people living with dementia and their communities to quality support and services. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland also operates the Alzheimer National Helpline offering information and support to anyone affected by dementia on 1800 341 341.
Alzheimer National Helpline:
For more information on our supports and services during this challenging time, please contact The Alzheimer Society of Ireland National Helpline. The Helpline is open six days a week, Monday to Friday, 10 am – 5 pm and Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm, on 1800 341 341. Email at [email protected] or via Live Chat at www.alzheimer.ie
ABOUT DEMENTIA
- There are 64,000 people with dementia in Ireland, and the number of people with the condition will double in the next 25 years to over 150,000 by 2045.*
- There are 11,000 new cases of dementia in Ireland each year. That’s at least 30 people every day, and anyone can get dementia – even people in their 30s/40s/50s.**
- Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of conditions which cause changes and damage to the brain.
- Dementia is progressive. There is currently no cure. Dementia is not simply a health issue but a social issue that requires a community response.
- Most people with dementia (63%) live at home in the community. Over 180,000 people in Ireland are currently or have been carers for a family member or partner with dementia, with many more providing support and care in other ways.
- 1 in 10 people diagnosed with dementia in Ireland is under 65.
- The overall cost of dementia care in Ireland is just over €1.69 billion per annum; 48% of this is attributable to family care; 43% is by residential care; formal health and social care services contribute only 9% to the total cost.
*Figures referenced by Cahill, S. & Pierce, M. (2013) The Prevalence of Dementia in Ireland*Figure referenced from Alzheimer Europe (2020) Dementia in Europe Yearbook 2019 ‘Estimating the prevalence of dementia in Europe’**Figure referenced from Pierce, T., O’Shea, E. and Carney P. (2018) Estimates of the prevalence, incidence and severity of dementia in Ireland.