Dementia Friendly DCU

The HSE and Atlantic Philanthropies are joint funders in a €1.7m national Dementia project, which is designed to address dementia education needs in Ireland. The project was launched in DCU earlier this year by Minister Kathleen Lynch, TD, Minister of State, Department of Health and Department of Justice, Equality and Defence with responsibility for Disability, Equality, Mental Health and Older People.

The aim of the project is to build resilience within the community, and to identify specific areas where education and training can improve the lives of both people with dementia and their carers.

One of the specific areas identified is Dementia Awareness. Dr Kate Irving from DCU and Mary Manning of the HSE are developing a number of bespoke educational resources for the public, those in public facing services and those who work in health and social care professions. 

The team has developed a short video to raise awareness about dementia and help in making Ireland more dementia friendly.  

Dr Irving said “We are aware that some members of our own staff and student community will have first-hand experience of dementia through a family member or friend and the launch of this video is a timely opportunity to let the DCU community know that there is a team of people here in DCU with expertise in dementia, both clinical, policy and services focused and some with personal experience."

If anyone in the DCU community would like to learn more about what dementia is and how people with dementia and their families can be best supported, please contact us through the website www.dementiaelevator.ie