Transforming Dementia Care, Policy and Practice
Dementia Hub Ireland documents the extraordinary journey of innovation that is helping to transform dementia care, policy and practice in Ireland.
This has been made possible with the investment of €33 million from The Atlantic Philanthropies (Atlantic). This in turn has leveraged an additional €51 million from government and other agencies.
Atlantic has funded 15 separate projects, ranging in magnitude, duration and scope. What is common to them all is the resolute focus on moving Ireland away from the old, biological model of care and residential solutions to a more progressive, biopsychosocial model that puts people and community first.
The projects address issues as diverse as philosophy, epidemiology, culture, stigma, understanding, education, skills and training, care practice, public policy and how best to enhance and transform supports for people with dementia.
Central to the investment is a focus on collaboration. The leading research institutions, organisations, advocates and practioners involved have worked together in a co-ordinated and concerted effort to strengthen policy and enhance the lives of people with dementia and their families.
And while much has been achieved, the real work is just beginning.
The activity that has taken place – to bring about this focus towards a community orientation that focuses on brain health and personalised care – now needs sustained and continued significant investment if it is to progress.
“We’re talking about making sure that people who want to make a difference in their community, who want to set up an Alzheimers Cafe, who want to have a more psychosocial engagement, who want to engage communities, can. This should be easy, not hard. This is why we live.”
Professor Eamon O’Shea, Centre for Economic and Social Research on Dementia, NUIG
