Dementia in the Media

• Evoke.ie: 20th September: Limerick Family Do 125k ‘Irish Camino’ for virtual Alzheimer’s Memory Walk
• RTE.ie: 1st September: Govt called on to assist reopening of dementia services
• The Irish Times: 31st August: Covid restrictions on dementia services could lead to increase in nursing home admissions, charity says
• The Irish Times: August 31st: Dementia care in a pandemic: ‘Dad asked me if we were at war’
• The Irish Times, 31st July: Call for better State approach to dementia as study shows alcohol among risk factors
• The Irish Times, July 9th: People with Dementia and Carers Need Help (Letter to the Editor)
• IrishHealth.com, July 8th: Concern over impact of lockdown on dementia
• Irish Examiner, July 8th: Face-to-face Alzheimer’s services ‘must open as soon as possible’
• The Irish Times, July 8th: Coronavirus has caused decline in people with dementia, carers say
• BreakingNews.ie, July 8th: Face-to-Face Alzheimer’s services ‘must open as soon as possible’
• Newstalk (Pat Kenny Show), July 7th: CEO Pat McLoughlin and full-time family carer Denise Monahan
• RTE Radio One (Morning Ireland), July 7th: CEO Pat McLoughlin and full-time family carer Denise Monahan
• RTE.ie, July 7th: Worsening of dementia symptoms during pandemic – Alzheimer Society
• Newstalk.com, July 7th: Putting Faces to Names Seems to be Going – Living with Alzheimer’s in Lockdown
• Irish Independent, July 7th: People with Dementia dealt a severe blow by coronavirus lockdown
• RTE Drive Time, June 12th: Impact of Covid-19 restrictions on people with dementia and family carers
• Irish Examiner, 8th June, National Carers Week chance to acknowledge hidden heroes
• The Irish Times, 2nd June, We must consider the negative health consequences of the lockdown
• RTE.ie, 7th May, 7 more things to do at home while social distancing
• The Irish Mirror, 6th May, Sinead Kennedy talks about Virtual Alzheimer’s Tea Day
• Evoke.ie, 1st May, Daithi O Se talks about Virtual Alzheimer’s Tea Day
• The Irish Mirror, 3oth April, RTE stars Daithi O’Se and Sinead Kennedy celebrate first virtual Alzheimer’s Tea Day
• The Sun, 26th April, ‘Tough Times: How Covid-19 affects most vulnerable bringing terrifying new reality for those with dementia
• Irish Independent, 20th April, ‘Mum doesn’t understand coronavirus or why she can’t have visitors’
• Farmers Journal, 18th April, Chronic Conditions During Covid-19
• The Irish Times, 14th April, Charities in need of a helping hand
• RTE.ie, 7th April, The impact of Covid-19 on full-time family carers
• Irish Examiner, 4th April, Campaigner urges people to be kind towards those with dementia not keeping social distance
• The Irish Times, 2nd April, Isolated people with dementia are ‘falling off a cliff edge’
• Alzheimer Europe, 1st April, Covid-19: Lack of services leading to deterioration in health of people with dementia
• Herald, 26th March, Charity faces €1m hit after cancelling tea day
• Irish Examiner, 25th March 2020, Alzheimer Charity Faces €1m in Funding Losses
• Irish Sunday Mirror, 15th March 2020, Hero Limerick dad’s mission to give hope to people with dementia
• Irish Daily Mirror, 19th February 2020, Irish dementia cases to more than double in next 30 years
• Farmers Journal, 22nd February 2020: ‘Don’t Forget Us and Don’t Abandon Us (Interview with Helen Rochford Brennan)
• The Irish Times, 19th February 2020: Dementia cases to more than double by 2050
• The Irish Times, 17th January 2020: Catering for dementia brings business benefits, bank finds
• The Irish Sun, 11th December 2019: Irish Charity Sector Facing ‘Unprecedented Christmas Costs’
• The Irish Star, 22nd November 2019: Charity’s Ho-Hope (Memory Ribbon 2019)
• The Irish Independent, 22nd November 2019: Memories: Ribbons raising funds for Alzheimer’s charity
• The Irish Times, 21st November 2019: All I Want for Christmas … Greg O’Shea
• The Irish Times, September 24th 2019: My family are so caring but when I close the door, I am alone
• Saturday AM, Virgin Media One, 21st September 2019 (Jacinta Dixon & Dr Bernadette Rock)
• Irish Independent, 11th September 2019: Alzheimer’s disease: separating myth and fact
• RTE Radio One, September 3rd 2019: Legends Hurling Match and World Alzheimer’s Month 2019 (Kevin Quaid & Kathy Ryan)
• RTE.ie, July 24th 2019: ‘Study finds that women who never worked do worse on memory test’ (Tina Leonard)
• RTE.ie, July 11th 2019: ‘Community Groups Given Access to the Abbey Theatre’ (Jacinta Dixon)
• Irish Examiner, July 8th 2019: ‘Not one county has even a minimum of support for people with dementia’
• RSVP Magazine, June 18th 2019: ‘Former builder Sean Donal O’Shea opens up about his mother’s heartbreaking Alzheimer’s diagnosis’
• Irish Independent, June 14th 2019: ‘Inspirational: Teena hopes to be an example to all carers’ (Carer and Campaigner Teena Gates)
• Irish Independent, June 10th 2019: ‘What kind of country asks someone with Alzheimer’s to be a carer?’ – plea for help (Helen Rochford Brennan)
• Irish Independent, June 5th 2019: ‘New curbs to hit homecare for the elderly, the disabled’
• The Journal, May 28th 2019: ‘A garden in the Bloom Festival is a space where people with dementia can reminisce’ (interview with Kathy Ryan)
• The Irish Examiner, May 3rd 2019: ‘Govt must invest €12m per annum to tackle crisis in dementia care’ (interview with CEO Pat McLoughlin)
• The Irish Independent, April 27th 2019, ‘I’d go down to bed at night and be bawling for hours’. (interview with Sean Donal O’Shea)
• The Irish Independent, April 25th 2019, ‘I get glimmers of my dad, but they’re only glimmers’ (interview with Maire-Anne Doyle)
• The Irish Examiner, April 6th 2019, ‘Wild ways: Dáithí Ó Sé on the simple pleasures of the great outdoors’
• The Irish Independent, March 30th 2019: ‘My dementia journey: “I wasn’t recognising things and I was becoming very forgetful”‘ (Ronan Smith)
• The Irish Times, January 28th 2019: ‘Care access issue ‘contributes to anxiety and loneliness’ in people with dementia’ (Jacinta Dixon)

• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland delighted to announce Eugene McCague as new Chair, 29th September 2020
• Budget 2021: €20m investment needed in infrastructure, home care and community supports to address sharp deterioration in health of people affected by dementia, 25th September 2020
• Alzheimer’s Disease International launches most comprehensive report on dementia-inclusive design to mark World Alzheimer’s Day 2020, 21st September 2020. 21st September 2020
• First Virtual Alzheimer’s Memory Walk: Fahy Families undertaking epic five-day 125k ‘Irish Camino’ adventure to keep memories of ‘very special’ Kay alive, 20th September 2020
• New international exchange project brings quality online education programme to dementia family carers in Kenya, 9th September 2020
• Beauty expert and entrepreneur Pamela Laird issues rallying call for public to make every step count for ASI’s first Alzheimer’s Memory Walk fundraiser in September, 11th August 2020
• Harrowing accounts of life in lockdown reveal crisis for family carers and sharp deterioration of health for people with dementia as vital services remain closed, 7th July 2020
• Campaigner and full-time carer for her dad (90) refusing to ‘go down black hole’ as Ireland marks hidden heroes during National Carers Week 2020, 8th June 2020
• Ahead of ‘Hear Our Voice!’ launch, campaigner Kevin Quaid – ‘Having the chance to influence dementia policy gives me great hope after coming out of a very dark place’, 3rd June 2020
• New Online Support Group for Family Carers of People with Dementia launched to alleviate increasing pressure points on stressed family carers caused by COVID-19, 25th May 2020
• Diarmuid Gavin hosting online Tea Party to stand with people with dementia and their family carers to celebrate first ever Virtual Alzheimer’s Tea Day today, 7th May 2020
• Dáithí Ó Sé and Sinead Kennedy invite nation to show solidarity with people with dementia and family carers to celebrate first ever Virtual Alzheimer’s Tea Day, 30th April 2020
• Alzheimer National Helpline launches new free Dementia Nurse and Dementia Adviser call-back service to deal with increased need during COVID-19 crisis, 23rd April 2020
• Lack of services due to COVID-19 leading to deterioration in the health of people with dementia likened to ‘falling off a cliff edge’ – new research, 1st April 2020
• Devastating impact of Covid-19 highlighted as The Alzheimer Society of Ireland postpones Alzheimer’s Tea Day and launches urgent appeal for vital dementia supports, 25th March 2020
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland wants members of the public to celebrate strong women in our lives on this Mother’s Day with a difference, 20th March 2020
• Inspirational teenager taking on 290km Galway-Dublin cycle to set wheels in motion for mammoth 3-Country Challenge to raise funds for dementia, 2nd March 2020
• 141,200 people will be living with dementia in Ireland by 2050 – new Alzheimer Europe report, 18th February 2020
• Stars align for Denim Day for Dementia: Sinead Kennedy, Terrie McEvoy and Niamh Cullen combine forces to support national fundraising campaign, 10th February 2020
• Small numbers of candidates pledge to support dementia while people are living in crisis, 3rd February 2020
• Almost 6,000 people contact Alzheimer National Helpline in stark reminder of crisis in people accessing dementia care, 27th January 2020
• New Research by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI) and KBC Bank highlights need to support those living with dementia, 17th December 2019
• Heavy Rain Has Dire Impact on Alzheimer’s Memory Ribbon Collection – Members of Public Urged to Please Text to Donate Instead, 21st November 2019
• Love Island Winner Greg O’Shea Encouraging Public To Rally Behind Alzheimer’s Memory Ribbon Fundraising Campaign, 14th October 2019
• Funding for 10 More Dementia Advisers in Budget 2020 First Step in Dealing with Inadequate and Glaring Gaps in Dementia Services Across Ireland After Years of Neglect, 9th October, 2019
• Inspirational Advocate Kathy Ryan Voted as the New Chair of the Irish Dementia Working Group Following First National Gathering in Dublin, 23rd September 2019
• World’s Largest Ever Dementia Survey Reveals that Investment is Desperately Needed in Ireland to Fund Service Gaps and Provide a Minimum Standard of Community Services, 20th September 2019
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s Head of Operations Receives All-Star Thought Leader Award at All-Ireland Business Foundation Ceremony, 18th September 2019
• Inspirational Dementia Advocate Kathy Ryan and Virgin Media’s Deric Ó hArtagáin Reuniting to Lead The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s Camino Adventure 2019, 11th September, 2019
• Alzheimer’s Mobile Information Service to Bring Awareness, Support and Information About Dementia to the 88th National Ploughing Championships, 10th September, 2019
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Delighted That Bluebird Care Ireland Will Proudly Support Tipperary v Limerick Hurling Legends Clash,  8th August, 2019
• People with Dementia Tell Government: Stop Ignoring the Health Crisis of Our Time and Start Funding Vital Community Supports and Home Care in Budget 2020, 3rd July, 2019
• Teacher from Donegal Taking Part in Solo 145km Three-Day ‘Home to Home’ Walk to Raise Funds and Awareness for People with Dementia – North and South of the Border, 1st July 2019
• Inspirational Munster Dementia Advocates Calling on Public to Support Tipperary-Limerick Legends Clash of the Ash Fundraiser for The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, 16th June 2019
• Author, Broadcaster and Carer Teena Gates Hopes to Inspire Other Family Carers to Advocate for Vital Community Supports Following Her Successful Online Campaign, 13th June 2019
• Call For Local Election Candidates to Promote Dementia-Inclusive Communities and Support People Impacted by Dementia Who Are Struggling Across Ireland, 8th May, 2019
• Minister for Health Simon Harris States ‘Really Important We Do Everything We Can’ to Raise Awareness of Dementia at National Tea Party to Celebrate 25 Years of Alzheimer’s Tea Day, 2nd May, 2019
• Daithi O Se Invites the Nation to Tea to Mark 25th Anniversary of Alzheimer’s Tea Day Campaign, March 19th, 2019
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s New Partners Capital Credit Union Making Staff and Members More Dementia Aware – Starting with Brain Awareness Week, March 12th, 2019
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Launches Touching Real Life Stories of People with Dementia and Carers from AlzTalks Event, February 25th, 2019
• Struggling carer of mother with Dementia who rang Joe Duffy Show for Help Stepping Up Campaign to Lobby Government to fund Local Day Care Centre, February 14th, 2019
• Lifestyle, Travel and Fashion Blogger Louise Cooney Reaching Out to Younger Generation to be Dementia Aware and Support Denim Day Fundraiser, January 31st, 2019
• People Living with Dementia in the Community are Lonely Because Society Does Not Facilitate their Inclusion or Understanding Finds New Research, January 28th, 2018
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Hold Emergency Dementia Summit Calling on Government To Hear the Outcry For Dementia-Specific Funding in this HSE National Sevices Plan, November 28th 2018
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s Nationwide Flag Day Collection Memory Ribbon Taking Place Across Ireland on November 22nd, November 9th, 2018
• Pioneer of Dementia Advocacy Helen Rochford Brennan Receives Honorary Degree from NUI Galway,
  October 17th 2018
• Tommy Fleming to Perform at Celebratory AlzTalks Event in Sligo with Touching Real Life Stories from People with Dementia and Carers, October 12th 2018
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Frustrated with Lack of Dedicated Dementia Fund in Budget 2019, October 9th 2018
• Government Urged to Allocate €2.31 Million to Roll Out Dementia Adviser Service Nationwide in Budget 2019 Following Release of HSE Evaluation Report, October 1st 2018
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Calling on Government to Increase Dementia Research Funding to Mark World Alzheimer’s Day 2018, September 21st 2018
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Launches New Collectible Cookbook ‘A Taste to Remember’ to Mark World Alzheimer’s Day 2018, September 21st 2018
• Every Three Seconds Someone Develops Dementia – The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Supports World Alzheimer’s Month 2018 Campaign, September 1st 2018
• High Court Order Preventing People with Dementia from Leaving Hospital Indicative of Broken Dementia Healthcare System, August 3rd 2018
• Munster Dementia Carers Advocacy Network to Meet to Discuss Lack of Acceptable Levels of Dementia Support, July 19th 2018
• The ASI welcomes news of Dormant Accounts funding for some dementia services and supports, July 17th 2018
• Former Minister for Justice Nora Owen Issues Rallying Call for Fresh Investment in Community Supports for People Living with Dementia in Budget 2019, June 28th 2018
• KBC’S Hub2Hub Extreme-800km Challenge to help raise awareness and funds for The Alzheimer Society of Ireland During Carers Week 2018, June 11th 2018
• Extra Government Funding Required to Ensure Full Implementation of the National Dementia Strategy Following Mid-Term Review, May 24th 2018
• Riverdance help to put the kettle on to celebrate The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Tea Day 2018, May 3rd 2018
• Inequity of Access to Dementia Services Across Ireland Revealed in Dementia-Specific Community-Based Mapping Project, April 18th 2018
• ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Judge Loraine Barry joins The Alzheimer Society of Ireland as their new Ambassador for Tea Day 2018, April 16th 2018
• Daithi O Se says there are 55,000 good reasons to put the kettle on for The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s Tea Day on May 3rd, April 3rd 2018
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Launches Regional Group for Dementia Carers’ Advocacy Network in Munster, March 26th 2018
• A First for Irish Dementia Day Care as The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Introduces Paro the Therapeutic Robot to Persons with Dementia. March 8th 2018
• The Orchard Respite Centre for People with Dementia to Reopen Under the Management of Mowlam Healthcare, February 22nd 2018
• Dementia Advisers to Refer Persons with Dementia to Charter Medical’s Rapid Access Clinic Under New Partnership Agreement, February 8th 2018
• Advocate Kathy Ryan and TV3 Presenter Deric Ó hArtagáin Will Lead The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s Camino Adventure, February 6th 2018
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Ambassador Dave Kearney encouraging members of the public to support Denim Day for Dementia Fundraiser, January 31st 2018
• Powerful video launched to educate healthcare professionals about supports needed when a person receives a dementia diagnosis, January 30th 2018

ABOUT DEMENTIA

• The number of people with dementia in Ireland is expected to more than double from 55,000 today to 141,200 in 2050.*
• Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of conditions which cause changes and damage to the brain.
• Dementia is progressive. There is currently no cure. Dementia is not simply a health issue but a social issue that requires a community response.
• The majority of people with dementia (63%) live at home in the community. Over 180,000 people in Ireland are currently or have been carers for a family member or partner with dementia with many more providing support and care in other ways.
• There are 11,000 new cases of dementia in Ireland each year. That’s at least 30 people every day and anyone can get dementia – even people in their 30s/40s/50s.**
• 1 in 10 people diagnosed with dementia in Ireland are under 65.
• The overall cost of dementia care in Ireland is just over €1.69 billion per annum; 48% of this is attributable to family care; 43% is accounted for by residential care; formal health and social care services contribute only 9% to the total cost

Figures referenced to Cahill, S. & Pierce, M. (2013) The Prevalence of Dementia in Ireland
*Figure referenced from Alzheimer Europe (2020) Dementia in Europe Yearbook 2019 ‘Estimating the prevalence of dementia in Europe’
**Figure referenced from Pierse, T., O’Shea, E. and Carney P. (2018) Estimates of the prevalence, incidence and severity of dementia in Ireland.

• County by county breakdown
• Mapping: Dementia services in each county

• The Voice, Winter 2019
• The Voice, Summer 2019
• The Voice, Spring 2019
• The Voice, Winter 2018
• The Voice, Summer 2018
• The Voice, Spring 2018
• The Voice, Winter 2017
• The Voice, Summer 2017

• Language is our most powerful means of communicating. Simply using the correct language engenders trust. Never is this more the case than the language we use when talking about medical issues – particularly Alzheimer’s disease/dementia.
• Media stories on Alzheimer disease/dementia contribute significantly to the public’s awareness and knowledge of the condition. Increased community understanding about dementia makes the step to seeking diagnosis or support so much easier for the many people with concerns about memory loss.
• The more that other people understand their experience, the better the quality of life for people living with dementia. Importantly, positive public images have a multiplier effect on tackling the fear and stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s disease/dementia and help make the issue one that people are more encouraged to acknowledge and address.
• By publishing these guidelines, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland is not attempting to police the language others use – it is merely intended as a guide for using language in a more sensitive manner that avoids reducing individuals with Alzheimer’s disease/dementia to a series of labels, symptoms, or medical terms. We hope it will promote consistency across the dementia care sector and be a reference for others to use.
• These guidelines are intended to highlight how words and language really do make a difference. Click here to read more about dementia friendly language.