Tipperary society champions dementia inclusivity at recent community event

Nenagh came out in force to champion dementia inclusivity at a community event hosted by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s North Tipperary Branch. 

The event, held at Abbey Court Hotel, on Thursday, 3rd October, brought together community members, local representatives, businesses, and services in Nenagh, as they showed their support for a dementia-inclusive community. 

Shay Dunne, whose father Seamus lived with dementia, delivered an emotive speech as he shared his personal experience.

Speaking ahead of the event, Homecare Coordinator at The ASI Jennifer Woods said: "Communities can play a key role in reducing the challenges for people living with the dementia, and for their families.”  

This event follows the launch of similar events in several counties across the country. 

Head of Operations and Community Engagement at The ASI, Siobhan O’Connor said: "Our Friends of ASI dementia inclusive events have garnered an incredible response. People are keen to learn about dementia and how they can help those affected by the condition. I have no doubt that Nenagh will embrace this initiative.” 

Friends of ASI is a dementia-inclusive programme. It includes training, awareness, education, and services and aims to encourage people, businesses and services to create a more nurturing and accepting environment for people living with dementia and their families in their community. People living with dementia are among the most marginalised in our society and can often face social exclusion and stigma.

This initiative is working alongside the HSE’s Dementia: Understand Together campaign.  Dementia: Understand Together, a national partnership between The ASI, HSE, Age Friendly Ireland, Age & Opportunity, Dementia Services Information and Development Centre and Healthy Ireland, encourages community members and people living with dementia to make their communities more dementia-inclusive.

Following the Dementia-Inclusive Community event, The ASI – with significant input from the local Friends of ASI – will develop an action plan as Nenagh works towards dementia-inclusivity.

For more information about this event and the Friends of ASI dementia inclusive community initiative, please contact [email protected] or visit alzheimer.ie