The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI)’s Friends of ASI Dungarvan celebrated its first-year Anniversary at an event at The Park Hotel, Dungarvan on Sunday last.
Friends of ASI Dungarvan was established at a community event in Movies at Dungarvan in October 2023.
Since then, the Friends of ASI Group in Dungarvan has grown with 30 plus volunteers and created more supports and services including a monthly Dementia Cafe in Merry’s. The group was also the subject of a segment on RTE’s Nationwide earlier this year.
Head of Operations and Community Engagement at The ASI, Siobhan O’Connor said:"I’m so proud of all the work that our Friends of ASI Communities have done over the past year. The Friends of ASI Dungarvan are proof that when a town comes together, they can do amazing things. I’m excited to see what they will do in the future."
Friend of ASI Dungarvan, John Lawless, said: “Being a volunteer with ASI is a most enriching experience as it has given me a deeper appreciation for the ongoing and relentless challenges faced by the carers of people with dementia. In our efforts to make Dungarvan a dementia-friendly town I am also experiencing that much can be done by raising awareness in the community and that there is an openness both in the business sector and the general public to help out in whatever way that they/we can. I am heartened by the success of our monthly memory café at Merry’s Restaurant where everybody who walks in the door is treated with dignity and equality. There is no labelling, people whether they 'have' dementia or not are welcomed as members of the local community.”
Friends of ASI, a dementia-inclusive programme is established in several counties nationwide. It includes training, awareness, education, and services and aims to encourage people, businesses and services to create a more nurturing and accepting environment for people living with dementia and their families in their community.
For more information about this event and the Friends of ASI dementia inclusive community initiative, contact [email protected] or visit alzheimer.ie
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