It is estimated that there are currently 41,000 people with dementia in Ireland and Alzheimer’s Disease accounts for the majority of cases.
Currently, the HSE provides a range of services for people with dementia including Primary Care Services, Home Support Services, Day Care, Respite, Housing with Care and Continuing Care Services. These are delivered through the HSE’s network of local offices, via Public Health Nursing, Day Care Centres and Public and Private Residential Care Facilities and where appropriate, Psychiatry of Old Age teams. In addition a limited number of memory clinics and specialist services are available.
Families and carers of people with dementia can access a number of services through their primary care team or HSE funded services such as those provided by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. In addition carer support groups have been established across the country, details of which can be obtained from local Primary Care Teams.
Given that the number of people with dementia is expected to rise to between 141,000 and 147,000 by 2041, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to develop a National Alzheimer’s and other Dementias Strategy by 2013 to;
- increase awareness
- ensure early diagnosis and intervention and
- ensure development of enhanced community based services.
A significant amount of preparatory work has already been completed.
A research review funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies to lay the foundations for the Strategy, titled Creating Excellence in Dementia Care, A Research Review for Ireland’s National Dementia Strategy was published in January 2012. A public consultation process to inform the development of the Strategy was conducted in 2012 and a report of same published on the Department’s website in February 2013.
A Working Group, representative of key stakeholders from the Department, the HSE, the medical profession and the community and voluntary sector has been established, the first meeting of which took place in May.
While the development of the Strategy will have to have due regard to the constraints imposed by the budgetary situation, it is intended that it will be a transformative Strategy. It will have a very practical focus, will be action oriented and will focus on what can be done to make a difference to the lives of people with dementia. It is intended that a draft of the Strategy will be completed by the end of 2013.
