Community first in North Kerry as Listowel embraces becoming a Dementia Inclusive town
Together with staff of the HSE South West in Tralee, 27 local services, businesses and organisations have worked collaboratively over the last three years to help increase awareness and improve support for those living with dementia and their families, which will allow them to feel welcome and connected to community life.
Reflecting on the importance of this partnership, Dolores McElligott, Team Leader Community Worker HSE South West, had the following to say:
'Dementia is not just a health issue, it's a social issue and requires a community response. Most people with a diagnosis of dementia are living in their communities; it's vital that they can continue to avail of local services and be able to remain active and engaged. We're so delighted that the community here are committed to making the town an even more welcoming place for people with dementia and their families.'
Listowel resident, Karen Carmody, whose father has dementia, added:
'Dementia can be a long, lonely and isolating journey for those with a diagnosis and their loved ones. As someone who has a loved one living with Dementia, I know how important it is to live in a community that genuinely cares about the illness, and the issues that arise. This is a hugely important initiative and it really does make a difference in the day to day lives of both the person with dementia, and the people that care for them.'
Sharon Boyle, a checkout and news supervisor at Garvey's Supervalu in Listowel, further highlighted the importance of offering community support to people living with dementia when she said:
'I just think everyone should keep their independence and be able to come in, do their shopping, have a chat with us. We're there for everybody in the community. I think it's vitally important.'
There are more than 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland and this number is expected to more than double to over 150,000 by 2045.
The HSE's national Dementia: Understand Together campaign works with people all over Ireland to build dementia inclusive communities. These communities, such as Listowel, aim to help people living with dementia and their families to be understood, respected and valued. It helps them to stay socially connected and engaged in community life, and to access businesses, services and amenities that understand their needs.
ADVERTISEMENT
Learn more
The Dementia Inclusive Listowel project was launched in late 2022. The members meet regularly, provide information, advice, resources, and connect businesses and services together. They have hosted dementia awareness-training workshops for more than a hundred people and organisations based in and around the town.
Since launching, more than 250 people have attended public information evenings on dementia and brain health. This is a long-term project, with a commitment from the community to keep the conversation, education and understanding going.
Finbarr Mawe, Chairperson for Dementia Inclusive Listowel and Ard Chúram Day Centre explained:
'We've had great support from the people and businesses working with the Listowel Business and Community Alliance, and we know first-hand just what that means to the people living with dementia in our community and also their families. People with dementia are valued members of the Listowel community, and we're delighted to celebrate all of the hard work of the committee and the town.'
To learn more about the work of Dementia Inclusive Listowel, and how you can work towards building a dementia inclusive community where you live, visit www.understandtogether.ie/get-involved or email understandtogether@hse.ie
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
Assessments of children who may have had unnecessary hip surgeries pushed back to next year
Children who may have been subjected to unnecessary hip dysplasia surgery must wait until next year before they are assessed by a team of external experts for a second medical opinion. In May, the HSE published an independent audit on hip surgery thresholds for children with developmental dysplasia of the hip. It examined 147 cases across three hospitals : Temple Street , the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh and Crumlin Hospital . In Temple Street, 60 per cent of surgeries audited did not meet the clinical threshold for surgical intervention, while this was the case for 79 per cent in the Cappagh hospital. Following the report, the HSE announced it was commissioning an independent expert review panel that will work to review patient files to determine the appropriateness of the original decision to operate. READ MORE The HSE said then that the review panel would be set up within six months. However, a spokeswoman for the executive has now said it will be January before the review of individual cases begins. The health service issued an international call for experts, with applications accepted up until last Friday. 'Expressions of interest have been received from a wide range of regions including Ireland, the UK , the USA , Canada , Asia and other parts of Europe,' the spokeswoman said. 'These submissions will be subject to a shortlisting and recruitment process prior to the formal announcement of the panel, which is expected to convene in September.' She said an international expert has been identified and agreed to chair the external panel, and terms are being negotiated. The organisation is designing a 'robust scientific and methodological framework' for the review, which is expected to be agreed between September and December this year. 'It is expected that the review of individual cases will commence in January. This timeline reflects the complexity of the work involved and the need to ensure a rigorous and comprehensive approach,' it added. The HSE, Children's Health Ireland (CHI) and patient advocates held a meeting on the external review panel last Thursday. In a statement following the meeting, Hip Dysplasia Advocacy Group, a newly-established representative organisation, said there must be 'full transparency' between the HSE and the families regarding these reviews. It said 'everyone is left completely in the dark'. 'We strongly suggested they set up a webpage to inform families of updates in a timely manner and we hope to see this implemented swiftly,' the statement said. The advocacy group described the engagement with CHI at the meeting as positive, adding that the paediatric healthcare provider anticipates all follow-up appointments for affected children will be completed by the end of the year.
Irish Independent
13 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Anti-sunscreen ‘lies' sweeping social media are dangerous, dermatologist warns
Influencers on platforms such as TikTok are claiming in posts that chemicals in sunscreen are dangerous. Some viral clips have gone so far as to claim 'the sun does not cause skin cancer'. Reality TV star Sam Faiers from The Only Way Is Essex was criticised when she recently posted that none of her family used sunscreen as she believed it was 'full of toxic ingredients'. Professor Anne Marie Tobin, the HSE's national clinical lead for dermatology, said there is 'absolutely no truth' to the claims and warned that misinformation is particularly dangerous for the Irish population. She said 75pc of Irish people have skin that is at risk of burning on exposure to the sun, 'and never tan or tan only after a long time, so they're at particular risk of skin cancer'. It makes no sense to me. It's anti-science, anti-evidence — it's just untrue The consultant dermatologist at Tallaght University Hospital said there is no evidence to suggest the chemicals in sunscreen are harmful. 'It makes no sense to me. It's anti-science, anti-evidence — it's just untrue. By not using sunscreen, people are increasing their risk of cancer. Apart from the risk of skin cancer, exposure to the sun really damages your collagen, that's incredibly ageing.' Prof Tobin said sunscreen has decades of scientific backing, and added: 'It originated in Western Australia, where they have a very high skin cancer rate. There's good evidence to show that it works. Skin cancer is entirely preventable. Unlike certain cancers, like colon cancer, you can completely avoid it.' She said the rates continue to be 'very high' in Ireland, despite the availability of sunscreen for several decades. One blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles your chances of developing melanoma in later life,' she added.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
HSE accused of ‘abandoning rural mothers' at protest over Portiuncula maternity services
The HSE was accused of abandoning mothers in rural areas during a protest prompted by concerns over the future of maternity services at Portiuncula University Hospital in Co Galway . About 2,000 people from western and midland counties marched through Ballinasloe on Saturday to chants of 'Care Can't Wait – Reinstate". The demonstration was organised by the Portiuncula Maternity Alliance (PMA), which was established after the HSE decided that expectant mothers with high-risk pregnancies would have their antenatal care moved from Portiuncula to other locations. The decision was taken on foot of a report published last month that summarised five reviews of care provided to women and their babies at Portiuncula and found there were 'significant clinical risks' at the maternity unit. READ MORE The HSE has said it was committed to implementing the 34 recommendations contained in the reviews and had established an implementation team to do this. Protesters carried county flags and placards, one of which read 'No births on the M6!'. Among those participating were nuns from the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood, the order that established the hospital in 1943. Cllr Evelyn Francis Parsons, a GP and Independent member of Galway County Council , told protesters it was wonderful to see such a turnout and that 'together we will not let [the hospital] be downgraded'. 'This hospital and especially its maternity unit is not just bricks and mortar, it has been part of our families, our community for many, many years,' she said. 'Behind every statistic, behind every policy decision, there are real people, mothers, babies, families and staff.' She said mothers' voices have not been heard much in the debate about Portiuncula and she shared some experiences of women cared for there in the past. Ms Parsons cited the case of Mary O'Malley, whose child experienced hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen and blood flow to babies. 'Her care was reviewed. These are her words: 'Forcing a high-risk pregnant woman to travel is not a safety plan. It's a terrifying gamble with our lives, with our babies lives, on the road. We were promised a safe modern service. Instead of delivering that promise, the HSE is abandoning rural mothers, and forcing us to bear the risk of its own strategic failures'.' Kevin Connolly, a retired paediatrician who worked at Portiuncula from 1978 to 2010, said he was very proud to have worked at the hospital. 'I am very concerned that the right thing is not being done, the wrong thing has been imposed on us,' he said. 'What has been imposed on us is not safe, is reducing capacity and taking away resources. It is patently the wrong thing to do and it must stop. We have to win.' Ms Parsons said that 'when services are downgraded they rarely come back', noting the experiences of Nenagh and Roscommon, where accident and emergency departments were closed years ago. 'But I also want you to look at Portlaoise, they fought and they saved their maternity unit. And so can we,' she added. 'We demand proper staffing, proper resourcing and proper respect for our healthcare workers, our nurses, midwives, doctors and all the other staff. 'This is about mothers, the guardians of our future, it's about our babies, our families. It's about equality, about rural families. They deserve the same level of care as families in Dublin, Galway or anywhere else in Ireland.'
