Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was struck by the headline on an article about Alzheimer's disease and dementia which stated, "Dementia tsunami looms". However, the figures are startling and they justify the use of the word "tsunami". An increase of 240% is forecast in the number of people who will present with either dementia or Alzheimer's disease. We are aware of the figures from the 2012 research in the review undertaken by Trinity College and National University of Ireland, NUI, Galway in preparation for the national strategy. Those figures quoted 42,000 people living with dementia. However, in 2014, the Department of Health revised that upwards to 50,000. It was startling that 8% of those were under 65 years of age. The word "tsunami" is justified.

We are aware of the national dementia strategy and its priority areas. A very important area is timely diagnosis, but that requires general practitioner, GP, training and education. There are also the areas of intensive home care packages, integrated services, research, and public awareness and understanding. I looked at the 2015 first national survey on the provision for people with dementia in long-time care. There was a good response from the nursing homes - 469 from a sample of 602. There were positives in it regarding the therapeutic services, such as music, art, sensory rooms and gardening, but it is disappointing that these were not available everywhere. One can see in that survey the discrepancy between the public and private sectors. In the HSE-operated facilities, only one third of the staff and care attendants were specially trained, whereas in the private establishments all of the staff and care attendants had specialist training. In addition, the privately operated facilities were more likely to offer individual bedrooms. The most serious concern related to the number of specialist care units at only 11%. There is a need for strong political leadership and commitment to address those issues.

I recall the film Still Alicewhich was released a couple of years ago.

It gave a very powerful view of the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's disease and how terrifying it is for the person experiencing that loss of memory, finding themselves in places without knowing how they got there, forgetting how to eat, forgetting to dress and the loss of words and the ability to express how they feel. It is a very lonely and dangerous place. There is also the challenge for those who love them because we know that caring can be a 24-hour activity. It has been said that 25% of carers are elderly and many of them experience financial strain. I know from family and friends how caring for somebody with Alzheimer's disease can be overwhelming at times.

Some people take refuge in denial or in hiding or camouflaging it. One of the most impressive and moving presentations I attended was one organised by Dementia Ireland and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland where a lady in her early 50s spoke about the early onset of Alzheimer's disease and the way in which she was managing to deal with the illness. I also want to acknowledge the support that is given to carers and loved ones by the Alzheimer Café events. I have been to two of them, one at the Clareville centre in Glasnevin and the other in Cabra. I hope we get a new primary care centre in Dublin 1 and that there will be a space for that type of café for people. We must try to get away from being embarrassed about or ashamed or fearful of people with dementia because compassion, empathy and inclusiveness are what they need. All too often, some of them feel that they are better off staying at home or their relatives want them to stay at home but staying at home just leads to depression.

We know there is no cure at this stage but we know that diet, exercise, meditation, mindfulness, social inclusion and involvement and, above all, public awareness all help. I read an article by a woman with early-onset dementia in which she wrote that her mind is slowly dying but that, in the meantime, she is living her life one day at a time.

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