John Lahart
Question:162. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health his views on the increase in dementia adviser numbers nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23315/21]
View answerThursday, 6 May 2021
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The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s (ASI) Dementia Adviser Service provides emotional support, advice and signposting services to people who are concerned about their cognitive health or have a diagnosis of dementia, and their families and friends, at all stages of their dementia journey.
A 2017 mapping exercise conducted by the National Dementia Office (NDO) and the ASI found gaps in access to dementia-specific community-based services and supports across the country. To help address this, additional funding was allocated in the HSE’s 2020 National Service Plan to recruit an additional 10 dementia advisers, with a further 11 to be recruited under the 2021 National Service Plan. This will bring the total number of dementia advisers employed by the ASI countrywide to 29, ensuring that a service is available to people in all counties. The ASI has confirmed that all ten advisers provided for in 2020 have now commenced in their roles, together with a national coordinator for the service.
The dementia adviser service is one part of a broader package of supports for the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy funded by the Government in Budget 2021 and included in the HSE’s 2021 National Service Plan. This package of supports includes provision for in home day care for people with dementia, the development of new memory clinics, and provision for a minimum of 250,000 hours of dementia-specific home supports in 2021.