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The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI) and Mahon Point Shopping Centre will officially launch the first dementia-inclusive shopping centre in Ireland on November 14th at 10 am. On November 14th and 15th, The management, staff of Mahon Point, and the Retail staff across the stores in the Centre will partake in Dementia-Inclusive Training provided by The ASI. This training will allow Mahon Point to provide a welcoming and positive shopping environment to people living with dementia and their families. Mahon Point will be the first Shopping Centre in Ireland to be awarded the Dementia Inclusive Community Friends of ASI accreditation and display the emblem.

Topics included in the Dementia Inclusive Training include What is Dementia? Signs and Symptoms, Communication, and Creating a Dementia Inclusive Community.

Justin Young, General manager at Mahon Point, said:

“Mahon Point Shopping Centre is delighted to partner with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, as we plan to become Ireland’s first Dementia-friendly shopping centre. Together with our retail stores, we aim to create a space where every individual can navigate with ease and dignity, ensuring inclusivity for all.”

Head of Operations at The ASI, Siobhan O’Connor, said:

“This is a huge step forward in our quest to create a dementia-inclusive shopping centre; we’re so grateful to the Mahon Point Management Team and its tenants for taking the brave steps to become the first of its kind in Ireland. We hope that more centres will follow their shining example and join Mahon Point to create an Ireland where people with dementia and their families can carry out their daily lives securely.

We are delighted to welcome people living with Dementia and their families to Mahon Point on Tuesday, November 14th, to celebrate this wonderful initiative.”

An estimated 7,509 people live with dementia in Cork, and more than 11,000 people develop the disease annually – at least 30 people daily.

For more information about the Friends of ASI initiative, please contact [email protected].

For more information about The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and its services, visit alzheimer.ie.

About The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI):

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is Ireland’s leading dementia-specific service provider. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland works across the country in the heart of local communities providing dementia-specific services and supporting 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 dementia journey 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.

About The Mahon Point Shopping Centre

The Mahon Point Shopping Centre is Ireland’s most sustainable shopping centre with over 60 stores, including Frasers, Tesco, Sports Direct, Zara, Rituals, Omniplex Cinema, Milano, Nandos, and so much more!

Other services include a Weekly Farmers Market, Free Style Advisor Service, Drop in Creche, Free Parking and Direct Bus Routes.

Fashion, Film, Food, Fun, That’s The Point!

Dementia Inclusive Communities

Dementia-inclusive Communities programmes is one of the initiatives of the Friends of ASI Programme. A Dementia Inclusive Community is one in which people living with Dementia and their families fully participate in Society and have a place in it. It is one in which they enjoy respect, freedom, dignity, equality, accessibility and quality of live. It is one in which they are empowered to live independently, free from stigma, discrimination, exploitation, violence or abuse. It is one in which they feel included and involved and have choice and control over their day-to-day lives. It can be described as a city, town or village where they are understood, respected, supported, and confident they can contribute to community life. It is one in which the people in the community will be aware of and understand Dementia.

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.