• Denim Day for Dementia set for Friday, 1st March 
• Register for your complimentary Denim Day pack on www.alzheimer.ie  
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI) aims to raise over €3.6 million this year to sustain essential services.  

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI) will host its annual nationwide Denim Day for Dementia fundraising campaign on Friday, 1st March, to raise funds for families impacted by dementia. 

Now in its sixth year, the popular fundraising campaign aims to unite communities to support families living with dementia. Hosting a Denim Day for Dementia is quite easy, and can be done in two steps:  

1. Order a free Denim Day for Dementia pack online at www.alzheimer.ie or by contacting fundraising@alzheimer.ie or (01) 207 3800. 
2. Dons your blue jeans, denim jacket, or whatever denim you have and host a Denim Day for Dementia on March 1st in your office, school, workplace, or wherever you may be.  

The ASI must raise €3.6 million this year to maintain crucial supports and services, including the National Helpline, Family Carer Training, Social Clubs, and Alzheimer’s Cafes. This year’s campaign targets a fundraising goal of €30,000 to support families nationwide living with dementia. 

The ASI Head of Fundraising, Mairéad Dillon, said: 

“The Alzheimer Society of Ireland are here to support families affected by dementia and their carers in Ireland. Fundraising is crucial to maintaining our vital services each year, and this year, we must raise €3.6 million. This is a fun and easy campaign to get involved in, and I encourage schools, businesses, and local communities to Don their Denims and support people living with dementia on March 1st. Sign up today at www.alzheimer.ie.” 

An estimated 64,000 people in Ireland live with dementia, with one in 10 diagnoses occurring in individuals under the age of 65, often referred to as young-onset or early-onset dementia. 

Join the movement by donning your denims on Friday, March 1st, and make a difference in the lives of families living with dementia in Ireland. 

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 helpline@alzheimer.ie 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.