Dementia Strategy Report Welcome – Clune.

20th January 2012.

Fine Gael Senator Deirdre Clune today has welcomed the issuing of a new report on dementia in Ireland. This report criticises the care provided to people with dementia in Ireland and “found that over 40,000 people suffer from the illness and has a higher incidence than cancer and heart disease”. One of the startling findings of this report was that more than 26,000 people with dementia are still living at home and have probably never been diagnosed with the illness.
The report entitled ‘Creating Excellence in Dementia Care: A Research Review for Ireland’s National Dementia Strategy’ was undertaken by researchers at Trinity College, St. James Hospital in Dublin and the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology at NUI Galway.
“This report shows first- hand the plight and lack of support many suffering from dementia are experiencing in our communities”.
“I very much welcome the publication of this report this follows on from Minister Reilly’s announcement that more funding will be invested in the area of mental health and a number of jobs and training will be provided for those working in the sector. It is crucial that funding is given to this area and those vulnerable in our society such as the elderly are taken care of”.
Funding which is being allocated to mental health will greatly help those who are suffering from dementia and their families, services will be made available to families these services include public health nurses, home help services, therapy , assistive technology and other such services.
I believe that families should be given the option to look after their loved ones at home and services to assist these families must be provided for by the HSE. “As our population ages as the incidence and prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease continues to rise, the urgency for Ireland to develop its own National Dementia Strategy has never been so great “.
Senator Clune concluded “This report will act as a blueprint for the implementation of the National Strategy”.
ENDS.
Senator Clune can be contacted on 087-2387539