Support available for Leitrim families living with dementia

When Leitrim finally opened its first dedicated dementia day care centre last year, it marked the end of one long wait—but it also came as the county faces a growing challenge.

The new Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) Day Care Centre at St Patrick's Community Hospital in Carrick-on-Shannon made history by making Leitrim the last county in the Republic to receive a dementia-specific day care service. But behind the celebrations lies a stark reality.

Official HSE estimates show that 543 people were living with dementia in Leitrim in 2020, with the vast majority aged over 70. Nationally, that figure stood at just over 64,000 people, but it is projected to more than double to 150,133 by 2045, underlining why services such as the new Carrick-on-Shannon centre are becoming increasingly important.

The figures reveal dementia rises sharply with age. In Leitrim, an estimated 230 people aged over 85 were living with dementia in 2020, while there were 116 people aged 80 to 84, 82 aged 75 to 79, and 55 aged 70 to 74. For families, those numbers represent parents, grandparents, neighbours and friends. The opening of the Carrick-on-Shannon facility on March 22 was therefore welcomed as a major milestone for dementia care in the county.

The centre provides a safe, welcoming environment where people living with dementia can socialise, participate in activities tailored to their needs and maintain their independence for as long as possible, while also offering much-needed respite for family carers.

Carol Molloy, Regional Operations Manager for the North West with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, described the opening as a landmark moment. "This is a proud day for Leitrim. We're thrilled to finally offer this essential service locally, where it's needed most," she said.

Minister for Older People Kieran O'Donnell said the new service reflected the Government's commitment to expanding dementia supports across Ireland. "The Government is committed to expanding dementia care. This centre is a direct result of that commitment, and I look forward to working with ASI to develop even more services," he said.

Siobhan O'Connor, Head of Operations with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, said the opening completed the national network of ASI day care centres. "It's taken time, but today is about the families we can now help," she said.

While Leitrim has one of the country's smallest populations, it also has an ageing demographic, meaning demand for dementia services is expected to continue growing in the coming decades. The HSE projections suggest the number of people living with dementia nationwide will increase by more than 134 per cent over the next 20 years, driven largely by an ageing population.

For Leitrim families who have previously had to travel outside the county to access specialist dementia supports, the opening of the Carrick-on-Shannon centre represents more than another health service—it provides local help, familiar surroundings and vital support at a time when it is needed most.