Photo Caption: Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler TD with Staff and Volunteers of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland at the Opening of the West Waterford Dementia Day Service
Minister Heralds ‘Vital’ New Support for People Living with Dementia in Waterford on day of celebration
On a day of celebration, (May 6th), The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI) launched its new West Waterford Saturday Dementia Day Service in Dungarvan with an Alzheimer’s Tea Day party. Minister of State at the Department of Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler T.D. officially launched the service.
This fantastic new dementia-specific service will be of tremendous support and benefit to people living with dementia in the West Waterford catchment area.
Our day service will provide dementia-specific, person-
The new service will offer a wide range of activities including reminiscence therapy, music sessions, gentle exercises, arts and crafts and personal care. The Saturday service will include a hot lunch.
The Alzheimer’s Tea Day and launch event provided a great opportunity to view the new service and meet The ASI team with performances from The Solas Choir, Dungarvan and Michael Mackey.
The venue for this new service will be Déise Day Centre, X35 DE98.
The service will run every Saturday from May 13th.
There are 1,729 people living with Dementia in Co Waterford with 5,187 carers, so it is vital that we continue to maintain, and enhance, these key support services.
Alzheimer’s Tea Day is The ASI’s biggest and most important fundraiser.
Alzheimer’s Tea Day returned last year after taking place online in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19. Traditional Tea Day events in the past have raised €500,000. The ASI hopes to continue rebuilding Tea Day and, this year, raise €300,000.
Each year more than 11,000 people develop the disease across the country – at least 30 people every day.
Tea Day events have been held nationwide in schools, homes, and ASI Day Care Centres. The ASI organised the annual event in partnership with local communities and businesses to raise awareness and funds for those living with dementia and their families.
The ASI is also delighted to present a brand new challenge – The Alzheimer’s Greenway Challenge, supported by Payzone. This is a fun challenge along the picturesque Waterford Greenway in the sunny South East. It features an option for everyone from walkers to experienced cyclists. On the 30th of June and 1st of July we’ll be journeying from the pretty harbour town of Dungarvan through the foothills of the Comeragh mountains and along the banks of the River Suir to finish in historic Waterford city. More info https://alzheimer.ie/get-
For information about the new ASI West Waterford Saturday Dementia Day Service in Dungarvan, please contact manager Nicola Dee via nicola.dee@alzheimer.ie
Speaking ahead of the launch, Minister of State Mary Butler said: “As a long-term advocate for people with dementia and in my current role as Minister for Mental Health and Older People, I’m really pleased to officially open this new West Waterford Day Care Service. This is a real example of the Government’s ongoing commitment to funding a range of supports for people with dementia and their families. Day care is a vital support for many people, providing restorative care both for the person with dementia and their loved ones. Déise Day Care already operates a fantastic 5-day service from this site, and the addition of a sixth, dementia-specific day will be hugely beneficial to people with dementia and their families here in Dungarvan and its wider catchment area.”
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Head of Operations, Siobhan O’Connor said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be launching our new Day Service in Dungarvan; a service that will support the increased numbers of people living with dementia, their families and carers in the area and a home away from home. Today is a real celebration. We’re so thankful to all those people, especially our friends in The Deise Day Centre who worked tirelessly to ensure this day would become a reality. This centre is the culmination of many years of collaboration between the ASI and the local community and it seems fitting that we mark it today with a celebratory cup of tea!”
