Colette Kelleher (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am talking about both and about any other methods we might need. One of the good things about the national dementia strategy is that there are people with dementia actively participating in it. We need to see that in all these forums because people are able to articulate their needs and indicate their preferences. There needs to be new ways of working in order that those kinds of different groups can converse with each other. It is equally an issue with the professions. For example, sometimes the physiotherapist does not talk to the occupational therapist about the care needs of the person. They need to do that. There should be all these different conversations but they should be driven, as Senator John Dolan said, by the needs of the person first and foremost. Things like personalised budgets shift power in a very meaningful way. It is something we need to look at seriously.