Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am glad the Minister mentioned intensive home support packages today. I also want to recognise the extremely difficult and hard work that a carer for a person with Alzheimer's disease must do. The majority of people with dementia - 63% - live at home in the community. Most are cared for by a family member, with approximately 50,000 dementia family carers in Ireland. Often, that family carer is an elderly spouse or partner who may be in their 80s. Carers must watch their own husbands, wives and partners change before their eyes.

They are helpless in so many ways and struggle every day to make sure their loved ones are comfortable and safe as Alzheimer's takes its terrifying grip on their personality and memory. I must also mention the Living Well with Dementia initiative, which has been running in Stillorgan and Blackrock for the past three years. There are also a number of other organisations throughout the country. This initiative provides amazing supports to people with dementia and their families so that they can continue to live at home. Living at home in a familiar environment plays a vital role in slowing down the progression of dementia. It is for both the person suffering with Alzheimer's and the carer that we must do something. We must address dementia prevention and awareness and make sure carers are supported.

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