Family Testimonials

Living Well with Dementia

Stillorgan-Blackrock

2012-2015

Family Testimonials

“Be a part of changing our community to see the person and not the dementia”

Logo in separate box+ scaleable to suit layout



‘The Living Well with Dementia project is the best run and best targeted programme that I have ever come across. I have no

doubt that Sheila would be in a home now without their support.

It is a very uplifting organisation, practical, caring of both the person with dementia and the carers. I have always felt supported and understood. I could not speak more highly of the project and

the personnel. It provides a quality of service way beyond my expectation.’

Désirée O’Rourke – Sheila’s sister


AWARENESS & EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES

Between 2012-2015, the project delivered :•19 family carer information events (70+ family members/ event)•Family carer intensive training (6-week)•2 Healthy Food Made Easy programme (6-weeks)

•2 Exhibitions• Assistive Technology • Health-care supports in community


‘Having the complete team from the GP down, all together in the one room, was great and you could chat

with whichever member of the team you wished’

Sinead Duffy – family carer

AWARENESS & EDUCATION


‘There was an opportunity to discuss and address any aspect of care or concern which arose for the carer. Also, any issue that could not be addressed at information evenings was followed up

as soon as possible. All the talks were very practical and very informative.’

Mary McGlinchey –family carer

‘The health professionals attending these meetings were very helpful and willing to answer questions and give information

freely.’

Aisling Guckian – family carer





‘By educating us about dementia we became more qualified, more understanding and better carers so it was a win-win situation. We

became much happier and confident carers’

Patricia Craddock Smith – family carer

‘The talks were very encouraging and supportive and I did not feel so isolated knowing that many families were having similar

experiences’

Mary Daly – family carer



‘The Healthy Food Made Easy course rejuvenated my interest in cooking. I now cook a range of healthy dishes for my wife and me. I learnt a great deal and had such fun with the group’

John Dowling– Joan’s husband



RESPITE CAREBetween 2013-2015 the LWwD project supported:•12,216 hours of in-home respite to 23 people with dementia.•The respite ranged from 3 hours to 19 hours per week.•The project supported 2 people to remain at home to end of life.•The project supported 3 people to return home from hospital.•The project also provide planned respite for families to take a break or attend a family event.•The project provided emergency respite in case of a family emergency.


‘Day care and respite care has been a life saver for me without which I could not have looked after my

wife Mary for so long’

John McGuire – Mary’s husband

RESPITE CARE


‘Through Living Well with Dementia we have been put in touch with day-care in Blackrock also following his hospital stay we have a homecare package in place. I

would not have known about this help if I had not

attended your meetings.’Roberta Cochrane – Rodney’s wife

‘I want to record my deep appreciation for support that my wife, myself and the children are receiving from the project. For the first time in many months, I can begin to make regular plans as a result of the flexible monthly home-care support’ Husband of person with dementia.

RESPITE CARE


‘My husband Donal enjoyed the visits from the carers. It added variety to his routine and it gave me freedom to do

housework, go shopping or meet friends’

Mary Daly - wife of late Donal

RESPITE CARE


‘At home Barbara was surrounded by family and friends and felt safe in the knowledge that she was not just A patient but THE patient. The smile on her face

the first morning after she came home from the hospital was beatific and said it all. It is an image that will stay with me and comfort me for the rest of my life.

The final months of her life were comfortable,

dignified and full of happy times’

Hugh Lavery – husband of the late Barbara

RESPITE CARE


SOCIAL SUPPORTSBetween 2013-2015 the LWwD project introduced a range of community based social activities.

These was delivered with the support of a team of dedicated volunteers.

•2 Musical Memories choirs • 60+ members• Partnership with HSE/ DLR Arts & Health

•2 Exercises Groups• 70+ members• Partnered with Siel Bleu

•Bridge Group•Creative Writing – with support of Blackrock library and HSE Primary Care Team (8 participants)•Art-Appreciation – partnered with DLR Coco Arts office in DLR LexIcon (sustained)•Art group – 9 participants with dementia.


‘The choir has given Marie a new lease of life. The Dementia seems to vanish for some time before, during

and after the choir’Dr Con Power – Marie’s husband

SOCIAL SUPPORTS

‘Musical Memories is so much a part of our Saturday and now we really look forward to it; It has been a wonderful success’

Aisling Guckian – Tom’s wife


SOCIAL SUPPORTS


SOCIAL SUPPORTS


‘The Tuesday exercise class gave my husband great pleasure - it was lovely to see the smile on my husband’s face as he did the

exercises. The project took away the isolation of feeling so alone in dealing with the dementia. My husband died in April 2015 and I am so glad we were able to take part in the project and I

shall treasure the memories.’

Olive Bain – wife of the late Alan

SOCIAL SUPPORTS


SOCIAL SUPPORTS


‘The creative writing course was brilliant and it would be

great if it would start up again. The social interaction

and stimulation were great’

Jane Mullan – Sean’s wife

SOCIAL SUPPORTS


SOCIAL SUPPORTS


VOLUNTEERSVolunteer Snap-shot (2014 -2015)

No of volunteers : 41 Volunteer hrs : >5,300 29 families received in-home befriending23 volunteers supported activities

Profile of volunteers: •Age range : 22 – 75•Working, Job-seekers, Retired•Sourced through parishes, active retirement, libraries •Active citizens in community•Ambassadors for person with dementia


‘Paddy looks forward eagerly to his outing with his “friend” on a Wednesday. This is a very special day in the week, he gets up in the morning wondering what they will do and

always comes home full of the joys of Spring and is stimulated. He sits down and writes it up in his journal. It

also gives me a break to do some necessary “catch up” or even meet a friend and have a coffee.’

Sinéad Duffy – Paddy’s wife

VOLUNTEER SUPPORT


‘For me, the most helpful support has been my two wonderful men, Michael & Joe who faithfully come to take Denis out every week. It is the only male

company he has and they are a God-send

My husband is profoundly deaf which together with his dementia makes him completely isolated. We have tried other social supports but ceased because of his poor hearing. However, the 2 men who visit him on separate days and take him

out for a walk have really worked.

’ Marie Wynne – Denis’ wife

VOLUNTEER SUPPORT


‘When I was asked “what would you Mum need?” I jokingly said – “a dog”. Christine and Frankie’s (a highland terrier) visits have made such a difference. They call once a week, sometimes sit and chat with Frankie on Mum’s knee which

she loves, or if the weather is fine they go for a stroll. Since the visits we have noticed how alert Mum has become and she

really looks forward to their visits’.

Geraldine Davidson – family carer

VOLUNTEER SUPPORT


COMMUNITY SUPPORTThe LWwD project could not have succeeded without enormous support from the local community. This support ranged from :•Consortium Support (Community & Hospital Health Service, People with dementia and their families, voluntary organisations, statutory organisations.)

•Benefit in Kind• Premises (schools, clubs)• Time (healthcare staff)• Fundraising (local shops, schools) • Funding of Exercise Group

•Reconnection with Clubs • Walking groups, gold clubs, Men’s sheds, garden clubs.

•Information & Educations (supported by members of Primary Care Teams)• Tailored training for Schools and community groups• Information stands in public areas• Community awareness events • Drop-in clinics for people worried about their memory


The Elves & Community Guards at the Christmas Party

COMMUNITY SUPPORT


Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Citizens

“Pledges of Support for a Dementia Friendly

Community”

COMMUNITY SUPPORT


COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Healthcare staff answer questions

about memory concerns at public

locations


COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Fundraises were held by shops and

schools.


SOCIAL EVENTS


“Sociability is very important – interaction with people is good for your mental and physical well-being – sure you’d fade into the wall-paper if you just stayed at home” – Ambrose Cassells, who has dementia

SOCIAL EVENTS


SOCIAL EVENTS


SOCIAL EVENTS


GOING FORWARD


‘The support programmes like Living Well with Dementia are invaluable to the person with dementia

and to the families. It is a very isolating illness and the families can feel very cut off from society. The project

gives a real sense of community involvement and belonging and it’s a necessity in our daily lives.’

Leonie & John Woods

GOING FORWARD


‘The Living Well project gives hope for the future and reassurance that you

are not alone’Maura O’Meara – family carer

GOING FORWARD


GOING FORWARD

“They are just like any of us – just because the mans has dementia, it doesn’t mean that he stops walking, or going to Mass or doing any of the things he always liked to do” Frank Tracy – Kilmacud Walking Group”

Date post:	12-Apr-2017
Category:	Healthcare
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