Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, has called for a new approach to support the 55,000 people with dementia across the State.  He said more needs to be done to ensure that every person with dementia who requires home care has access to dementia-specific care in his or her home.

Crowe was speaking after attending a building Dementia Awareness session in Leinster House.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Of the 55,000 people living with dementia in this State, it is estimated that 63% of them reside in their own homes. The National Dementia Strategy acknowledges this and the fact that most people with dementia living in their own communities wish to continue to do so, but this option isn’t always possible.

“More must be done to ensure that every person with dementia who requires home care has access to dementia-specific care in his or her home. Currently there are only 7 advisors available across the 26 counties. This clearly isn’t good enough.

“One of the aims of the National Dementia Strategy is to ensure every person with dementia who requires home care has access to dementia specific care in his or her home. I fully endorse and support this recommendation, and we need to see the full implementation of the National Dementia Strategy.

“In my party’s alternative budget proposals for 2017 we also identified housing adaptation as a critical area of importance for those with specific health needs. The existing local government adaptation grant schemes are chronically underfunded.

“Additionally it is of critical importance to ensure that everyone with dementia has access to a timely diagnosis and appropriate post-diagnosis support. Adequate training must also be rolled out and provided throughout the health and social care services for staff dealing with people with dementia.

“The Government needs to improve investment in care. Thankfully, on average we are living longer, but this new reality creates new challenges and a new approach is needed.

“We need to be supporting people to live at home and we will need to open more facilities including nursing homes for the challenges ahead.

We need to be creating dementia friendly communities in our villages, towns and cities across the State. Places where people with dementia are understood, respected, supported, and made feel included. A society in which they are listened to, have choices, and have control over their day to day lives.”

ENDS