Latest news with #AlzheimerSocietyofIreland
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
'It's keeping him going': Families call for more funds for Alzheimer Society Cork centre
A call has been made for increased funding to meet the growing demand for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland's (ASI) Cork centre, which has around 200 people with dementia on a waiting list. The centre offers day-care with activities, as well as home services and activities for under-65s with dementia or Alzheimer's. Alzheimer Society of Ireland southern region operations manager Breda Twohig set out the pressures during the annual Tea Party fundraiser on Saturday in Bessboro. Kieran and Maria O'Donovan with their newest grandchild enjoying the Alzheimer Society of Ireland annual Tea Day fundraiser at Bessboro Day Centre, Cork, on Saturday. Picture: Chani Anderson 'We'd have about 10 under-65s and that's only the people we can accept. We've over 22 clients here every day,' she said. 'We've 200 on the waiting list. There's people here who could come for five days but we can't take them five days. We take them for one day and some come for three. [That] is the most we can do.' She welcomed funding increases in recent years but stressed: 'The staff are key really. They are the whole experience for somebody with dementia.' Claire and Betty Keohane enjoying the Alzheimer Society of Ireland's annual Tea Day fundraiser in Cork on Saturday. Picture: Chani Anderson They are trying to expand further in west Cork but have found it challenging to hire carers. 'People all genuinely want to mind their loved ones at home but they can't do it alone and they actually break down,' she said. 'Families would take 10 hours [a week] if we could give it to them so we have to be fair to people and be fair to where carers are situated.' Breeda Horan, 70, from Carrigaline with her husband Ger, 72, was one of those at the fundraiser. Breeda Horan, 70, from Carrigaline with her husband Ger, 72, at Saturday's Alzheimer Society of Ireland annual Tea Day fundraiser in Cork. Picture: Chani Anderson Ger was diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia in his early 60s, leaving the former National Maritime College of Ireland lecturer unable to work, Breeda said. It's been very hard for him, very hard. He looks perfect to people but if you go five minutes beyond that, you know there's something wrong. He attends the centre two days a week, which she said is 'a godsend really for both of us' now. 'I think it's keeping him going with all the therapies, the caring and he loves the music,' she said. 'I think it's the people here, the environment. He was always a people person.' For herself, she noticed a difference from the start also. Pat Dillon enjoying some time in the memory garden at the Bessboro Day Centre with her grandson Aaron during the Alzheimer Society of Ireland annual Tea Day fundraiser on Saturday. Picture: Chani Anderson 'It was like a weight off your shoulders,' she said. 'I could relax for a bit and I knew he was very safe here.' She is unsure what the future holds and is already discussing this with their adult children. 'I'm 70 now, so you can keep doing it as long as you think you can,' she said quietly. Alzheimer Society of Ireland southern region operations manager Breda Twohig in the memory garden at the Bessboro Day Centre in Cork. Picture: Chani Anderson Minister of state for older people Kieran O' Donnell announced this month the HSE has commissioned the first national dementia registry. This will map services and identify gaps nationally. It will gather data on medications and people's quality of life also.
Irish Times
20-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
‘Dementia is just one part of who they are. My husband's underlying personality hasn't really changed'
Nuala and Gerry Paley first met when she was 21 and he was 23. Their relationship didn't take off properly in the beginning, but they met again eight years later and were married within six months. The couple, now aged 69 and 71, are living with the difficulty of early-onset Alzheimer's as Gerry was diagnosed with it in 2017, when he was just 63. 'I first saw changes in Gerry about a year before his diagnosis,' says Nuala. 'I noticed a change in his mood, and in his outlook on things. He was repeating himself, and seemed less aware of what he was talking about and what he was saying. The changes were subtle, but they were there. At that stage I had lived with him for 30 years, and when you're with someone that long, you notice these things. 'He was diagnosed in 2017 and now, some days it can be difficult to get him out of bed. Although he washes and dresses himself, I have to remind him to change, and I leave everything out for him and remind him constantly to move on to the next thing – for example, if he puts something into the microwave, he will think that he has eaten, so I will have to remind him. READ MORE 'Mornings are busy generally, as he has several activities which I drive him to, and he loves walking our dog, Teddy, in the afternoon. He has the same route every day, and always ends up in the local cafe for a coffee, but, after that, the days can be long. Dementia brings many challenges, as anyone dealing with the condition will know and it is getting more stressful as Gerry's memory problems become more persistent. 'I have had my own medical issues over the past while, so it's very hard to keep up at times. It can be like Groundhog Day, every day, and the stress can be intense. I have wonderful friends, but I am very aware they have their own lives too.' But despite the issues the Wicklow couple face on a daily basis, they have a strong relationship. Nuala says the most important thing for carers to do is to take any support offered, as some days are very difficult. 'We love each other, so it's very important to see the person beyond the condition,' she says. 'Dementia is just one part of who they are and Gerry's underlying personality hasn't really changed. He is very sociable, and loves being with other people. He is a very caring and kind person and is always looking out for others – he still has these characteristics. 'Of course, he might not realise that he has spoken to you about the same thing multiple times – but that's just something I have to accept, especially as what he says can be very wise. My advice to other carers is to talk, talk, talk – to whoever can offer help, information and support. I would encourage them to enrol in a carer's course, join support groups and get in touch with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) to learn more about their services and supports. 'Gerry and I avail of the ASI's Day Care at Home Service and, twice a week, Lorna from the ASI comes to spend time with Gerry. They have the chats, play board games, go for walks with Teddy or grab a coffee. This gives me a break and takes away some of my stress; it makes a huge difference to our lives.' Women over the age of 60 are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease as they are to develop breast cancer during their lifetime — Report by Alzheimer's Research UK Gerry and Nuala became members of the Irish Dementia Working Group and the Dementia Carers Campaign Network, advocacy groups that help to raise awareness of issues affecting people and families coping with dementia in Ireland. 'Our advocacy work has been incredibly rewarding – knowing that we are helping to ensure that the voices of people with dementia and their carers and families are heard,' says Nuala. 'Connecting with others who are in similar situations – whether they are caring for a loved one with dementia or living with the condition themselves – it gives you a sense of comfort and strength. Dementia affects so many families across the country, and Gerry and I want people like us to know that they are not alone. 'We need to stand back and admit we are only human and can only take so much – and we need huge supports to keep going day to day.' Gerry and Nuala Paley. Photograph: Karen Morgan Although dementia affects people of varying ages, Dr Laura O'Philbin, research and policy manager at the Alzheimer Society of Ireland says that women are much more likely to be affected by the condition, as figures show that women account for almost two-thirds of people living with dementia. 'A report by Alzheimer's Research UK published in 2022 highlighted that women over the age of 60 were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease as they are to develop breast cancer during their lifetime,' she says. 'Women also play a significant role in caregiving, with approximately two-thirds of primary caregivers for people with dementia being female – this is supported by Irish census data. And as well as more often providing care, women tend to provide more intense levels of care and, in some cases, experience greater stigma and reduced social support compared to male caregivers.' [ The year of hope: 'Exciting' advances achieved in search to reverse Alzheimer's disease Opens in new window ] In addition to this, Dr O'Philbin says women living with dementia may encounter unique challenges, including the compounded effects of ageism, sexism and ableism. 'These intersecting stigmas can result in social isolation and barriers to care. Traditional gender roles further complicate matters, as women are often seen as caregivers rather than care recipients, which can heighten feelings of guilt or inadequacy following a dementia diagnosis. 'This is a double-edged sword because, at the same time, the societal expectation for women to take on caregiving responsibilities, combined with limited recognition of caregiving as a valued role, has contributed to challenges for male caregivers. Some men report stigma which can lead to a reluctance in asking for or accepting help.' About Dementia According to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, there are an estimated 64,000 people with dementia in Ireland. The number of people with the condition is expected to reach 150,000 by 2045. Globally, women account for about two-thirds of people living with dementia. This disparity is likely due to a combination of biological, genetic and social factors. Ongoing research suggests that hormonal changes post-menopause and genetic risk factors, such as the APOE4 gene, contribute to the higher prevalence of dementia among women. Although men and women are equally likely to carry the APOE4 gene, its association with dementia risk appears stronger in women, though the underlying reasons for this difference are not fully understood. Women's longer life expectancy also increases their likelihood of developing age-related conditions such as dementia. Often, the early signs of dementia may be difficult to detect. Some people experience changes in their short-term memory early on, for others changes to mood or to language may be the early signs. Each person's experience with dementia is unique. In general, early signs and symptoms can include: Memory loss, particularly for recent events Problems with language; difficulty finding the right word Changes in mood and behaviour Becoming confused in familiar surroundings or situations Difficulty in following conversations, TV programmes or reading Difficulty managing money and everyday tasks Difficulty solving problems or doing puzzles Loss of interest in hobbies and pastimes, lack of initiative to start something or go somewhere. Repeating a question or story several times without realising If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is advisable to make an appointment with your GP to discuss or contact the ASI's National and Free Confidential Helpline at 1800-341341 or
Irish Independent
06-05-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
See photos as Alzheimer's Tea Day comes to Co Wicklow
As always, St Killian House Family Resource Centre was the venue for the event in Greystones once more, as the town's Tea Day kicked off nice and early at 10am. Over in Christ Church, in Delgany, there was a great turnout for the charity fundraiser, which began at 10.30am where all present indulged in some sweet treats, tea and coffee, and enjoyed the positive vibes, which is what the event is all about – taking a pause and enjoying the company. Meanwhile, clients, volunteers and community members enjoyed a fantastic day at St John's Caring Centre in Hacketstown, when it hosted a coffee morning that raised nearly €500 for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. With people coming and going throughout the morning, the joyous event saw attendees enjoy a range of cakes baked by centre volunteers to go with their teas and coffees. Centre manager Sheila Whelan, who oversees St John's care for the elderly, providing meals three days a week and a colossal number of meals on wheels to people in Hacketstown and its surrounding areas, said she was delighted with the funds raised. 'We raised nearly €500, which was brilliant for one morning,' she said. 'We just advertised it locally, and the local community came out in force, and it wasn't necessarily just clients at the centre – anyone and everyone was welcome. The coffee, tea and cakes were done by the volunteers here at the centre, and we had a beautiful day for it. Just a great morning altogether.' The funds raised from Tea Day go towards the many services The Alzheimer Society of Ireland provides to those living with dementia.
RTÉ News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Úna Crawford on becoming a carer to husband Bryan Murray
As Bryan Murray, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease six years ago, bids farewell to Fair City, his partner in life and on screen, Úna Crawford O'Brien talks to Janice Butler about making the difficult decision for him to step away from the soap and why it's so important for carers to ask for help. In August 2022, actor Bryan Murray and his partner in work and life, Úna Crawford O'Brien sat down with us and revealed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2019. He hoped going public would help others. His brave decision to go public with his illness got a conversation going around the disease, and since then, Bryan and Úna have continued to be advocates for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI). In 2022, Bryan said to us: "I wish I didn't have it, but I do have it, and I'm still here. I have it and I am working with it." Bryan continued to work with his condition until a few weeks ago, when the couple announced that the veteran actor will be stepping away from his 27-year role as Bob Charles on Fair City. His partner and main carer Úna opened up on the Ray D'Arcy show to explain that while maintaining Bryan's role in the soap ensemble had been a key aim for them, it had become too difficult and distressing, so the time had come to step away. Bryan had his last speaking part in the show before Christmas, and last week, his final scenes were aired. Since the announcement, there's been a huge outpouring of love, respect and care for the couple. When I spoke to Úna during a break in her own schedule on Fair City, where she plays Bob's wife, Renee Phelan, she admits to feeling overwhelmed by it all. "The reaction to Bryan's retirement has been incredible. The outpouring of love that we've received has been so appreciated. It's been a lot to process," she says. "I didn't want to overdo it and have people thinking 'Here she is again', but in actual fact, the amount of people who are reaching out to me to say that because we've spoken out about Bryan's diagnosis, it spurred them on to get a loved one checked. So it makes it worthwhile when you hear that," she continues. "When Bryan was asked would he be interested in working on the ASI working group, he immediately said yes. He was keen to help in any way that he could so I know he'd want me to continue his message." It's been a difficult road since Bryan's diagnosis. Úna says it took her a long time to admit that she needed help as his condition worsened. In fact, it took a broken foot before she reached out for assistance. "What happened was I broke my foot in November, and it was a total nightmare. I couldn't do anything. I had the foot up for three months nearly and it was an eye opener," she reveals. "I realised if anything happened to me in the future, I would need to have people and a system in place to help and that's what jolted me into getting help. I don't know how long I would have continued saying 'I can cope on my own' had that not happened. If I could go back, I would have accepted help earlier." Since then, Bryan's family, two brothers and his daughter who live nearby (and her own two sons) have been a huge help. Úna has a system of carers and respite in place. It allows her some time in the week to rest and prepare for her own scenes in Fair City, saying that going to work is a place of solace for her. "Work is my sanity, and besides loving it, which I do, just being able to get out and mix with people and friends and just to have chats about regular things, it just makes you able to cope a bit more. So, for me to be able to get out and do these things, I need help. Everybody needs help, because it's a 24-7 job. Even when Bryan is asleep, I'm worried he might get up during the night." She credits the Fair City cast, crew and producer Brigie de Courcy for all they've done for Bryan to ensure he could still work after his diagnosis. "Brigie was incredible; her and the team have facilitated him the best they could, and that included everyone – acting, staging, sound – they all helped out. Huge thanks goes to them all," she says with emotion. "They respected my decision late last year when I said he would have to finish up. Brigie had always said that she was leaving it entirely up to me, which was the best thing she could have done, because I wanted him to do it as long as he possibly could. But once it started to stress him in any way, I knew the time was right for him to finish. He wasn't aware that he was finished either and that was good," she adds. Both were separated when they first met in 2005. Bryan had been married twice before and Úna jokes that she didn't "want to be anyone's third wife." While they never married, the romance blossomed, and they have been together almost 20 years. They've travelled the world together and she remarks on Bryan's 'zest' for life, always asking what they are doing next. She finds it bittersweet to reflect on their life before his diagnosis. "We had great times, great laughs," she says. "We went to great places together, he was always like 'What are we doing, where are we going?' He has such a joy for life, and that does keep me going, but in a way, it makes me sad because we had such good times and we're not going to have them again." Bryan has had an impressive career, spanning stage and screen. Apart from Fair City, he's best known for RTÉ's adaptation of Strumpet City and the UTV/RTÉ co-production The Irish R.M. Originally from Dublin's Islandbridge, Bryan found a love for acting at a young age and managed to join The Abbey and go to London, where he was a member of notable companies including The Royal National Theatre. Úna says he was and is hugely proud of his acting career and still gets great joy from reading scripts and lines. "His pal Barry McGovern was in yesterday, and the two of them were reading Joyce and Finnegans Wake and he thoroughly enjoyed it. The actor is still there inside him," she remarks. "He was very proud of his career – he loved being on stage or on television, and the people that he met," she says. "He loved the musicals; he did Blood Brothers here in Ireland in '86 and he was in the West End. He did move to LA at one stage for a couple of years, but he didn't like it," she laughs. "He would revel in any work that he did – he was only eight weeks in Brookside as Trevor Jordache, and he would still get people stopping him about that. Then he was delighted when he got on Fair City. He loved it there." She admits that they had never discussed when he would draw a line on his acting career due to his illness, both hoping he could do it for as long as possible. "We never had those kind of conversations," she says. "Bryan's work and his acting were always his first love, and the idea that he wouldn't be able to work was just not somewhere we went. He would always say, actors never retire, they just look for the next script, the next job, so the idea of even broaching the subject that he might end up not working, it was never a conversation piece. I knew part of my job was to keep him going at work, as long as we could." Away from Carrigstown, Bryan's last role on stage was in a Deirdre Kinahan play, An Old Song, Half Forgotten at the Abbey Peacock. It was written especially for him and he played James O'Brien, an older actor living with Alzheimer's in a nursing home in England. A film production team followed Bryan and Úna as he navigated the role and their life at home since then as part of a documentary. She struggles with describing the changes in Bryan from when they started working on the documentary three years ago. "The idea of watching him change will be very sad. You see this man, who, yes, has Alzheimer's when they started making it, but he was full of the joys and cracking jokes. Looking back on it now, there were times I thought he was bad, but you get to this stage, three years later, and it's a different kind of bad." Úna tries to find light and joy in the simple moments with Bryan. Although he doesn't always recognise her any more, he still loves music and going for ice cream with Úna and their dog Bob, named after his Fair City character. "He adores ice cream, we've a lovely little shop that opened near us about a month ago, so we'll stroll up to that and have an ice cream and sit with the dog; two of his favourite things." Brian is in respite for a few weeks, Úna says, and while he isn't aware that he's no longer filming Fair City, she will at some stage share with him all the love and support he's received in the last few weeks. "When he comes home, I'll have had a rest and will be able to face the day again. You have to appreciate when things are good, grab it with both hands," she says bravely. "When I'm sure that he has put Fair City behind him, I will read him all the beautiful messages that he's received."
