ASI take first steps to Dementia-Inclusive Cavan

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI) hosted a dementia inclusive community event this week aimed at encouraging local people, businesses, and services in Cavan to become Friends of ASI, and create a dementia-inclusive community.

The event took place at Cavan’s Town Hall Arts Centre on Wednesday, March 20.

People with dementia are among the most marginalised and can often face social exclusion and stigma. Dementia inclusive communities, an initiative of the ASI’s Friends of ASI (FOA), aims to address this by aiding towns to become nurturing spaces for people with dementia and their families.

In June 2023, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys TD, opened The ASI Daycare Centre in Cavan. This provides vital support to the community, and last Wednesday’s event underscored the ASI’s commitment to supporting people affected by dementia in Cavan.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s Head of Operations and Community Engagement, Siobhan O’Connor, said: “I’m so proud to see the ASI strengthen its commitment to people living with dementia and their families in Cavan. Last year, we opened our Daycare Centre in Cavan, and since then it’s provided hundreds of hours of care. We’re now reinforcing that commitment by bringing Friends of ASI to Cavan. It’s vital to ensure that people who live with the condition have a voice and a space in their community. I encourage everyone who can to become a Friend of ASI and create more inclusive community in Ireland.”

Carole Beattie, chairperson of the Cavan Branch of the ASI said: “As a Carer who walked the journey of dementia with my darling husband for twelve years and having run an Alzheimer Support Group for fourteen years I’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges and isolation faced by people living with Dementia and their families.

“We need to foster a community where empathy, understanding and support thrive. Let us ensure that no one walks this path alone and create a county that embraces every person touched by dementia.”

The Friends of ASI initiative is working alongside the HSE’s ‘Dementia: Understand Together’ campaign. Dementia: Understand Together, a national partnership between The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, HSE, Age Friendly Ireland, Age & Opportunity and others.

Friends of ASI previously hosted similar events in Mullingar, Macroom and Mallow in Co. Cork, as well as in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. In November 2023, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland launched Mahon Point Shopping Centre as the first dementia-inclusive shopping centre in Ireland.

Thirty people are diagnosed with dementia each day, and 63% of people with dementia live in the community in Ireland.

For more information about the Dementia-Inclusive Community event, please contact friendsofasi@alzheimer.ie.