The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Newsletter / Issue 12 Winter 2016
This issue
• The National Dementia Strategy • Impact of Caring Campaign
• Rugby Memories
• Vote to Remember Campaign
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Newsletter / Issue 12 Winter 2016
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
Welcome to this first issue of The Voice newsletter for 2016.
Since I took on the role of CEO in the autumn of 2015 I have
had the pleasure of meeting many of you as I travelled around
the country, and I very much look forward to many more visits
planned throughout the remainder of 2016.
Last year was a very busy year for
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland
(ASI) and I would like to take this
opportunity to thank each and every
ASI volunteer and member of staff
sincerely for your continued and
tireless efforts to support people
with dementia throughout 2015. It is
expected that we will have delivered
nearly one million service delivery
hours in 2015.
I would also like to take this
opportunity to thank everyone who
fundraised up and down the country
for The ASI in 2015, in particular the Trojan effort put in by
volunteers and staff selling tickets for our inaugural Alzheimer’s
Car Raffle which contributed to it being a huge success. Just
before Christmas we launched our annual Memory Ribbon
campaign which was also very successful this year. Donations
will help fund all of our services around the country.
In January we launched our General Election campaign
‘Vote to Remember’ which called on election candidates to
prioritise dementia and asked all of you to get involved by both
demanding change when candidates came to your doorstep,
and by contacting your local candidates to demand change in
dementia care through our website www.votetoremember.ie.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who got
behind our campaign for better care for people with dementia
in our wider communities. Lobbying for better care for people
with dementia is something we are committed to for the
lifetime of the next Government.
We are now more than year on from when the Government
published Ireland’s first National Dementia Strategy. The ASI
welcomed its publication seeing it as a first step to transform
how dementia care is designed and delivered in this country.
Funding is being prioritised to provide Home Care Packages
for People with Dementia in eight pilot areas and to support
education and training for GP’s on dementia awareness. The
latter will support increased diagnosis and better management
of the condition within primary care.
We will also see a national dementia
awareness campaign later this year and
we will keep you updated on progress.
In addition, a national monitoring group
has been formed by the Government
and the Department of Health, which
I sit on alongside the Chair of our
Irish Dementia Working Group, Helen
Rochford Brennan and carer Sean Donal
O’Shea. We will keep you updated on
the progress of the NDS throughout
2016 and beyond.
After spending many months campaigning for the rights
of people with dementia in November our public relations
campaign changed focus to shine the spotlight on carers of
people with dementia with the launch of The Impact of Caring
campaign. This was a hugely successful campaign which
garnered a lot of national media coverage and awareness. I
would like to thank all the members of our Dementia Carers
Campaign Network who so kindly and bravely told their stories
in a bid to raise awareness of all those caring for a person with
dementia up and down the county.
I hope you enjoy this issue of The Voice and look forward
to updating you again later in the year. I wish you all the very
best for 2016.
Best wishes,
Colette Kelleher , Chief Executive
HISTORIC NEW LEGISLATION ON ASSISTED DECISION MAKING PASSED INTO LAW
In December we saw the historic passing of the Assisted
Decision Making Bill into law. This legislation upholds the
autonomy and dignity of the person with dementia, where
they now have a legal framework around decision making.
The ASI welcomed the legislation as it provides a modern
statutory framework supporting decision-making by adults who
have difficulty in making decisions unaided and replaces the
long out-dated Marriage of Lunatics Act 1811 and Lunacy
Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871. This legislation is also a key step
in enabling ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities.
This new legislation will mean the Wards of Court system will
be replaced and a range of legal options to support people
in maximising their decision-making capability will come into
effect in its place. As the new legislation impacts significantly on
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people with dementia, the ASI played a significant advocacy role
during its development to ensure it took account of the needs
and improves the lives of those living with dementia. We drew
on a unique combination of dementia advocacy experience,
knowledge of international best practice relating to dementia,
and the collective experience of people who use our services and
of staff about the day-to-day issues facing people with dementia
and their families.
We made a number of submissions to the Department of Justice
and Equality on the issue. The new Act is a positive step as it sets
out to safeguard the autonomy and dignity of the person with
impaired capacity and will have a significant impact on realising
the human rights of people with dementia. The legislation will
come into effect in the coming months and codes of practice for
different health and care professionals will be developed. The ASI
will keep you updated on any developments and future progress.
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Newsletter / Issue 12 Winter 2016
ELECTION 2016- VOTE TO REMEMBER
There are 48,000 people living with dementia in Ireland.
By the end of the next Government, in 2021, that
number will have increased by 40%. The Alzheimer
Society of Ireland (ASI) launched its Election 2016
campaign ‘Vote to Remember’ at the end of January,
asking candidates to pledge to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Renew the National Dementia Strategy;
Reform the National Dementia Strategy;
Resource the National Dementia Strategy;
Ensure that dementia-specific home and
community care, timely diagnosis & post diagnostic
support is provided to people living with dementia.
Launching the campaign, Colette Kelleher, ASI CEO,
said, “This year alone every day in Ireland 11 people
will develop dementia. That’s eleven mothers, fathers,
grandparents, sisters or brothers. The ASI’s Vote to
Remember campaign is asking candidates to Renew,
Reform and Resource the National Dementia Strategy
which was published in December 2014 to address this
growing demand for dementia care”.
Supporter packs containing the ASI election manifesto,
voter prompt card, candidate pledge cards and
campaign stickers were circulated to ASI day care
centres, branches, social clubs, Alzheimer Cafés,
Dementia Advisers, and to members of the ASI’s
Irish Dementia Working Group and Dementia Carers
Campaign Network.
A campaign website www.votetoremember.ie shared
stories from people living with dementia and family
carers. It also allowed voters to email their candidates
directly and gave candidates the opportunity to pledge
their support for people with dementia.
In the lead up to the election, a number of lobbying
events were held around the country. These included
a briefing for candidates in Dublin on Tuesday, 9th
February and events were also held for local candidates
across the country.
At the time of writing ASI’s main election asks were
contained in the election manifestos of Fianna Fáil and
Sinn Féin. Thanks to the hard work of ASI grassroots
network, we are hopeful that many cross party
candidates will sign our campaign pledge.
NATIONAL DEMENTIA STRATEGY – ONE YEAR ON
Carers Campaign Network) form part of the group with
other leading academics and national dementia experts.
Just over a year ago, in December 2014, the
Government published Ireland’s first National Dementia
Strategy. The ASI welcomed its publication seeing it as
a first step to transform how dementia care is designed
and delivered in this country.
So how far have we come in one year? We are happy
to report that some progress is being made, albeit
there is still much work to be done. The Health Service
Executive now has a National Dementia Strategy Office,
which is tasked with overseeing the implementation
of the strategy. In addition, a national monitoring
group has been formed by the Government and the
Department of Health. Colette Kelleher, our CEO,
sits on this group. Alongside Colette, two experts by
experience, Helen Rochford Brennan (Irish Dementia
Working Group) and Sean Donal O’Shea (Dementia
At the outset the Government stated that there were
no resources available for the strategy; however in the
interim some funding has been found. This was given
initially by Atlantic Philanthropies and was later matched
by the Department of Health and the HSE. The funding
is being used to provide Home Care Packages for
People with Dementia in eight pilot areas and to support
education and training for GP’s on dementia awareness.
The latter will support increased diagnosis and better
management of the condition within primary care.
We will also see a national dementia awareness
campaign later this year. Tina Leonard, our head of
Advocacy is on the steering committee for this work
and we will keep you updated on progress. Besides
these positive strides, we have expressed concern
that greater progress is not being made across the
Strategy’s other priority areas and actions.
Our general election campaign this year calls for
continued government commitment to dementia
with the full implementation of the strategy and a
commitment to develop a follow-up strategy to
meet increasing need.
If you want to learn more about the National Dementia
Strategy, read our short guide at www.alzheimer.ie
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The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Newsletter / Issue 12 Winter 2016
SERVICES AROUND THE COUNTRY
THE IMPACT OF CARING
In November 2015, the ASI’s Dementia Carers
Campaign Network (DCCN) launched an online
campaign to raise awareness of the significant impact
of caring for a loved one with dementia.
There are approximately 48,000 people living with
dementia in Ireland and approximately 50,000 family
carers. Caring for a loved one with dementia takes
time, energy and, above all, love. It can be a long and
emotional journey but with the proper support, it can be
a rewarding one too.
As part of this campaign six DCCN members shared
their experience of caring for a loved one with dementia
and a suite of five carer infographics was created.
A campaign booklet containing extracts from these
Pictured above: Judy and Norman Williams.
Courtesy of Richard Kendrick.
personal stories, infographics and facts and figures on
dementia was also prepared and circulated. A copy of
this booklet and the carer infographics are available to
download from www.alzheimer.ie.
The DCCN is a national campaigning group, raising
awareness of issues facing families affected by
dementia and lobbying for policy change. The DCCN
is facilitated by the ASI and is open to anyone in the
Republic of Ireland who has experience caring for
someone with dementia.
For more information on this campaign or on the
Dementia Carers Campaign Network please contact
Joanna Joyce at [email protected]
E.GRESS
E.gress is an audio-visual and filmic artwork which
resulted from a collaborative project between artist
Marie Brett, musician Kevin O’Shanahan and The ASI. It
involved the artists working with people with dementia
in three family homes and three care settings throughout
County Cork during 2013 facilitated by The ASI in Cork.
It resulted in an ambitious, collaborative audio-visual
piece of art which was exhibited at The West Cork Arts
Centre, Skibbereen, Co. Cork and The Crawford Art
Gallery, Cork city and the Irish Museum of Modern Art
(IMMA) in Kilmainham Co Dublin. The project explores
how the concept of ‘absence/presence’ relates to the
condition and experience of Alzheimer’s.
Opening events took place at each exhibiting venue
featuring up to six guest speakers reflecting on the
artwork from a variety of perspectives. The events were
open to the public and drew a large national audience
of artists, arts and health professionals, students and
academics. The ASE Midleton Day-care Outreach
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Centre, County Cork had 10 participants while Bessboro
Day-care Centre, Cork had eight participants and four
staff members contribute to the making of the artwork.
The project was funded by The Arts Council, The Health
Service Executive Cork Arts + Health Programme, Cork
City Council Arts Office and Cork County Council Arts
Office.
Jon Hinchliffe, Bessboro Daycare Care Centre Manager
with The ASI said: “The artwork opens up questions –
like silence and how we use it, how we relate to silence. There needed to be reflective silence within the work,
a companionable silence and this has been achieved.”
Jo Calnan, Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland, Outreach Day
Care Manager “From my perspective E.gress opened
doors for individuals irrespective of their health status
and it allowed clients to connect with the artists, which
was beneficial in terms of social connection.”
For more information go to www.mariebrett.ie/egress.html
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Newsletter / Issue 12 Winter 2016
CORPORATE FUNDRAISING
2015 was a fantastic year for our Corporate
Partnerships; we would like to take this opportunity
to thank all those who supported the work of ASI
throughout the year. We are delighted to confirm
that some of those partnerships will continue into
2016 with Allianz, BMW Ireland, REA and Leinster
Rugby all confirming their support for a second year.
Above BMW Ireland will present a cheque to ASI for
€13,500 in the coming weeks as part of their Hell & Back
Corporate Challenge that they took part in during 2015.
SLOVENIA TREK SEPTEMBER 10TH – 17TH
Join us on our Slovenia
Trek for an unforgettable
experience while making a
real difference to the lives
of the 48,000 people living
with dementia in Ireland
today. If walking is your
thing then a wonderful
alpine world of adventure
packed with walking and
hiking trails awaits you.
Slovenia has more than
7000km of marked paths
with Kranjska Gora as an
ideal base for walkers. From
easy valley floor and lakeside walks to longer hikes up
beautiful valleys and peaks, there are a huge range of
walks to suit walkers of all ages and abilities.
This trip will give you the chance to test yourself, both
physically and mentally. Participants are male, female,
young and old. Reasons for taking part come in all
shapes and sizes, but the one thing everyone has in
common is the desire to help families in Ireland living
with dementia, whilst taking part in a unique experience.
For more information visit www.alzheimer.ie or call the
Fundraising Team on 01-207 3833.
MINI MARATHON
Nearly 30 staff from SSE Airtricity, Northern Ireland’s
second largest energy supplier, embarked on a gruelling
three-day cycle challenge around Ulster in September
to raise €25,000 for a number of local charities. ASI
were delighted to have been chosen as one of the
beneficiary charities and received €7,979.00.
ALZHEIMER’S TEA DAY
ASI is delighted to
announce our new sponsor
for Alzheimer’s Tea Day.
Medtronic is thrilled to
support this initiative and
looks forward to growing
the campaign with The
Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
They have over 4,000 employees in multiple sites
across Ireland who will be showing support in their
communities by hosting local Medtronic Tea Days. This
year Alzheimer’s Tea Day will take place on Thursday
May 5th. We are aiming to grow this campaign even
further and will be asking local schools, businesses and
social groups to get involved and host a Tea Day for
ASI. For more information or to register for your host
pack please visit www.teaday.ie or call 1800 719 820.
Entries for the 2016 VHI Women’s Mini Marathon will
open on WEDNESDSAY 17TH FEBRUARY online at
www.vhiwomensminimarathon.ie Postal entry form
also available in
The Herald every
Wednesday and
Saturday from 17th
Feb. Don’t forget to
visit www.alzheimer.
ie and sign up to take
part in the marathon
on behalf of The
Alzheimer Society of
Ireland. Last year over 500 ladies took to the street for
ASI and we want to make 2016 even bigger and better.
THANK YOU
Thank you to all of our Corporate Partners for their
generous support. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland
looks forward to working with all of our partners
throughout the year(s) ahead.
Contact us: If you would like more information about
working with ASI through a charity partnership please
email [email protected] or call Nikki on
01-207 3826.
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The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Newsletter / Issue 12 Winter 2016
STAFF DEVELOPMENT IN ASI
TRAINING
REVIEW 2015
The Training Department had a very
successful year in 2015 delivering
almost 11,000 training hours across
the organisation.
Particular highlights included:
•In-House Training Delivery
One of our main goals this year
was to continue to roll out the
two-day Dementia Awareness
course to staff. We ran a total of
28 courses in 2015 with a total of
392 attendees. Since November
2014, therefore 542 people have
availed of this course.
•We continued to provide Manual Handling and People Moving
courses on request from managers.
This year we ran 23 courses
which were attended by a total
of 192 staff.
•Our Insights into Dementia
course for family carers continues
to be popular. This year we ran
27 courses with a total of 394
participants. Our running total is
now 684 against our target figure
of 1,000. So, we have to train 316
next year to fulfil our strategic goal
of 1,000 by end of 2016.
•We also ran 4 courses on
Elder Abuse with a total of 49
participants, and one Responsive
Behaviours course with 17
attendees.
Special thanks to our team of in-house
tutors who work so hard to deliver
high quality training to our staff.
Educational Support
We invested almost €10,000 in staff
development through the educational
support scheme. This assisted staff
gain valuable FETAC qualifications in a
range of care modules.
Funding Income
The Training Department sourced
almost €70,000 worth of funding from
HSBC, the Hospital Saturday Fund
and Erasmus+ during 2015. This will
help us to run a range of courses
including medication management,
online family carer training and manual
handling and people moving.
TUTOR PROFILE – MAEVE MONTGOMERY
I am a Dementia Adviser in Cavan/
Monaghan since 2014, although I
started with The ASI in 2002, I work
with people of any age who have
been diagnosed, or who are awaiting
a diagnosis of dementia. This includes
people with Alzheimer’s and other
forms of dementia, such as Vascular
dementia, Lewy body dementia and
Fronto-temporal dementia. Referrals
come from health and social care
professionals. The person with
dementia or their family member can
also contact me directly.
A Dementia Adviser is available to
answer questions and to put the
person or family in touch with people
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who can help. I can arrange to meet
you at home, or at an agreed location
and am also available by phone
and email. I work with the person
and/or their family carer to promote
independence, well-being and choice.
The service is free and confidential.
family member. It also helps build
self-confidence in the family carer.
They often discover that they are
doing a better job than they realised,
and are able to share experiences
with other people on the course
thereby helping someone else.
Shortly after taking up my role in
2014, I decided that delivering training
to family carers would be a natural
addition to my role as Dementia
Adviser. Family carers can so easily
become overwhelmed by the
responsibility of their roll that being
able to offer tangible and realistic
training is something I really wanted
to do. I started to deliver “Insights into
Dementia” in October 2014. Some
of the participants had already met
me and others made appointments
to have me call after the training. In
this way the two roles complemented
each other. In the months following the
course people would ring and tell me
someone who had done the training
gave them my number.
There is a camaraderie that develops
among the participants and many
stay in touch after the course is
finished. Some carers have sacrificed
going out socially because of their
caring role but will attend a course
that deals with dementia. One carer
told me they were not expecting to
laugh during a course on dementia.
Role play, group work and the
session on activities were particularly
enjoyable and although the subjects
are very serious the course is far
from gloomy.
I enjoyed delivering the course and
looked forward to it every week. I was
very happy that the people who were
taking part felt it was worth doing
The training has a number of benefits
and they were learning from it. They
for the participants. The obvious one is often came in having put new found
receiving information that helps them
knowledge into practice and shared
better understand dementia and the
the results with the class. I found this
changes that are affecting their
personally very rewarding.
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Newsletter / Issue 12 Winter 2016
NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
Blackrock social club members who performed
Christmas carols in Frascati Shopping Centre in their
first public appearance raising money for the South
Dublin branch.
Ballina national school’s Caolfhionn Madden and Ellie
Sweeney perform Irish dancing for clients at Waterman’s
Lodge, Balllina for Christmas
Eilish Walsh from the South Dublin Branch contacted
the Management of the Frascati Centre to enquire if they
could accommodate the group and were delighted to
be allocated a slot in the Centre on Sunday, December
13th from 12pm to 3pm.
Big thanks to Lucy Phifer’s son who sang and played
the guitar for the group and a very big thank you to
Eilish and the ladies and gentlemen from the South
Dublin Branch who volunteered on the day by setting up
the posters and shaking buckets. Well done all!
Schoolgirl Leni Plant braved icy conditions for a
sponsored Christmas morning swim with her aunt
Patricia Kiely for The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s
Fingal Day Care Centre raising €340. Leni’s Great Aunt
attends the Day Care Centre in Fingal and her family
are very supportive of every fund raiser organised by
the centre. Pictured are Maeve Quigley, Patricia Kiely
and Leni Plant. Well done Leni.
Above: North Kerry Home Care Staff took some
time out to enjoy their annual Christmas Dinner at
the Rosemary Day Centre Tralee. A great day was
had by all.
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The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Newsletter / Issue 12 Winter 2016
NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
Above: Dementia Adviser Majella O’Donnell (centre)
accepting a cheque on behalf of The Alzheimer Society of
Ireland from the Boyle Golf Club Committee, these funds will
be used for Boyle Day Care Service in Castlerea.
Left: Drimoleague Railway Yard Threshing and Vintage
Run Committee ran a Threshing and Vintage Run in aid of
local charities. Pictured here are the Committee members,
sponsors and helpers. They presented The ASI with a
cheque for € 3,750 to be used in the West Cork area. On Sunday 4th October, 12 supporters of The ASI
(Donegal Branch) were amongst over 50 people who took
party in this year’s annual Donegal International Airport
Charity Parachute Jump raising almost €40,000.
The monies will be used to provide respite care for families
living with dementia Back Row: Claire McDevitt, Brendan
McGeady, Brid Burns, Eibhlín Friel, Annmarie Doohan,
Lisa O’Donnell, Fiona Barnett, Pauric Conaghan, Anne
McLean. Front Row: Adele Dempsey, Finbarr Gallagher
and Brid Doohan.
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Pictured (L-R) are Ian Punch - DePuy Joints Global
S&OP Integration Manager, Brendan Lotty - Engineering
Team Leader, Linda Grogan, Nurse Manager, St Mary’s
Day Centre Mallow, Alzheimer Society, Grainne O’Leary
- Business Transformation Specialist, Ultan Kelleher Quality Engineering Leader.
DePuy choose The ASI as their charity for the year and
have carried out some amazing fundraising throughout the
year. The committee are pictured here presenting a cheque
for funds raised by their Halloween fundraiser. Also earlier
in the year the group went to Waterford, Bessboro and
Mallow to carry out painting, gardening and other tasks
and deserve massive thanks.
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Newsletter / Issue 12 Winter 2016
NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
The ASI mascot eight-year-old Lucas Holmes who is
Pictured at the launch of The ASI Pre Budget Submission
Clonskeagh having his big moment with our charity
Emer Begley, Research and Policy Manager, Judy
a third class pupil of Our Lady’s National School in
partner Leinster Rugby. Lucas led the team out before
their fantastic win against Bath in January. Well done
Leinster Rugby and Lucas.
at the Royal Irish Academy on Dawson Street were
Wililiams, carer Helen Rochford Brennan, Chair of the
Irish Dementia Working Group and Colette Kelleher
Alzheimer Society CEO.
Above: 26 students from St Anne’s Community College Killaloe, Co Clare attend Waterman’s Lodge every Tuesday
to visit clients. They are a great source of entertainment for clients and partake in many resident activities such as
dancing, Dementia Friendly Community project activities and visiting clients. A big thank you to this remarkable
young people.
Right: More than 30 women who participated in the
Dublin Women’s Mini Marathon alongside Chair of
the Irish Dementia Working Group, Helen Rochford
Brennan from Tubbercurry, Co Sligo raised more than
€8000 for The ASI last June. The funds will be split
between the The ASI and its Irish Dementia Working
Group (IDWG). Pictured (L-R) Catherine Dempsey, Lucy
Kennedy, Margaret Keenan, Margaret Kennedy, Cathy
Regan, Mary Foye, Louise Mc Daid. Front Row (L-R):
Carine Quinn, Nicola Marren, Majella O’ Donnell, Helen
Rochford Brennan, Tina Leonard , Helen O’Brien.
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The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Newsletter / Issue 12 Winter 2016
NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
Above: The lucky winner of our Alzheimer’s Car Raffle
Grace O’Brien from Ballyconnell, Co Cavan with her
family before she drove off in a new Suzuki Swift after
her winning ticket was drawn at the first Alzheimer’s
Car Raffle. Thank you to everyone who supported this
fundraiser. Safe driving Grace.
Left: A big thank you to the wonderful volunteers from
KBC would recently came to The Alzheimer Society of
Ireland office in Blackrock to help out. Thanks guys.
Well done to the 120 competitors who entered the Cork
Echo Women’s Mini-Marathon on the 27th September
in aid of Bessboro and North Cork services. Special
thanks go to the group from the Women’s Fitness Cork
Gym for taking part. Well done to everyone for your
support from all in ASI.
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Big thanks to our ASI pilgrims who walked a staggering
120km of the Camino de Santiago, a fantastic
achievement. There were lots of laughs along the
way, very well done to you all and thank you.
Roll on next year.
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Newsletter / Issue 12 Winter 2016
NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
David Linnane recently took part in a “Kube Challenge”
in Corofin which raised a staggering €1,700 for the
Clare Branch of The Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
Photographed at the cheque presentation is David
Linnane, Carron, Co. Clare to Liz Price and Marie
Moloney of the Clare Branch.
All the gang attending the Social Clubs Christmas Dinner
dance held in Wynn’s Hotel, Dublin on the 16th December.
A great night of music & dancing was had by all.
A cheque totalling €400, the proceeds of Taste of
Christmas Food Demonstration organised in Ballyneal
in December 2015 was presented to The ASI this month
- A big thank you to Marion Hearn and Mary Blackfield
for all their hard work. Pictured (L-R) are Marion Hearn,
Catherine Bartels, Mary Blackfield and a representative
from NCBI who also received money from the event.
Cheque presentation of funds raised by the Curry family
for Tea Day 2015. Carmel Curry was diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s in 2012 and was only 52 years old when she
passed away. Her family have continued to fundraise for
The ASI in her memory.
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The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Newsletter / Issue 12 Winter 2016
RUGBY MEMORIES
Legendary former Irish international, Philip Orr,
current Leinster and Irish hooker, Sean Cronin and
his teammates lined out at the RDS for the launch of
‘Rugby Memories’, a new initiative with The Alzheimer
Society of Ireland (ASI) last November. Rugby Memories
- run by The ASI and supported by our charity partners
Leinster Rugby - uses old photographs and memorabilia
to trigger recollections from the past in fans and former
players affected by dementia.
The images help recall and improve self-confidence in
people with the condition, and the events also provide
a much-needed supportive social outlet for both people
with dementia and their carers.
The aim of this project is to use a reminiscence approach
to connect rugby fans and former players, especially
those living with dementia, to the rugby community,
providing important friendships, positive associations
and practical respite for carers. We would call on
rugby clubs across Leinster who wish to get involved
to contact us and host a Rugby Memories event.
DUBLIN TO KILKENNY CYCLE JULY 16TH – 17TH
We are delighted to
announce our new route
for 2016, linking Dublin and
Kilkenny, this cycle is an
attractive challenge that will
be on quiet country roads
getting to experience what
makes the Irish countryside
a unique & wonderful place.
This year we have two
options both to suit the less
experienced cyclist and also
for those who seek even
more of a challenge. For our more experienced
cyclists, we will take a route
over the Sally Gap, one of
the country’s highest roads.
The cyclists will gather
into their pre-determined
groups with the lead groups
that intend to tackle Sally
gap setting off first. The
Sally Gap groups will head
directly out to tackle this
wonderful climb while the
other groups pass the
scenic Blessington Lakes.
To sign up for this amazing
challenge please contact
the Fundraising Team by
calling 01-207 3833 or
visit www.alzheimer.ie
The Voice was edited by Communications Manager, Edel O’Connell, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
Address: The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, National Office, Temple Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Phone 01 – 2073800, Fax 01 2103772, Email [email protected] Website www.alzheimer.ie
The comments and views expressed in this issue are often personal and do not necessarily represent the position of
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
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