Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler TD officially launched the ASI’s Memory Cafe in Dungarvan on Monday, 19th February in Merry’s, Main Street, Dungarvan.
The Memory Cafe project was spearheaded by Friends of ASI Dungarvan.
This marks the next step in The ASI’s commitment to creating supports and services for people living with dementia and their families in Dungarvan.
In May 2023, The ASI – with massive support from the Deise Day Centre – opened a Saturday Day Service.
In October 2023, The ASI’s Friends of ASI hosted a Dementia-Inclusive Community event in Dungarvan which led to the creation of Friends of ASI Dungarvan. Friends of ASI Dungarvan is a group of local leaders dedicated to creating a dementia-inclusive town.
People with dementia are among the most marginalised and can often face social exclusion and stigma. Dementia Inclusive Communities, an initiative of The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s Friends of ASI, aims to invite community members and people living with dementia, to help make their communities more dementia inclusive.
Memory Cafes provide a warm and welcoming space for people with dementia, their family and friends and social and health care professionals to meet, exchange ideas and learnings.
The Cafe is based on an international model and usually opens monthly in the early evening. Some cafes open during the day, and all provide light refreshments and a mix of education and support.
The cafes provide an informal way to meet others living with dementia and to meet health and social care professionals. Usually, an expert speaker is invited each month to talk to the Cafe about a topic of interest. However, the cafe is also a space to chat and enjoy a social occasion in a supportive environment.
Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler TD said: “An estimated 1,729 people live with dementia in Waterford, and 63% of people with dementia live in the community in Ireland. As Minister for Older People with responsibility for dementia, I have been working to improve the community services and supports available to people with dementia and their families throughout Ireland. I am delighted to continuously provide the Alzheimer Society of Ireland with funding to support the roll out of Memory Cafés and dementia-specific day centres. The Dungarvan Memory Café will provide invaluable information on topics related to dementia, while also providing social contact and peer support to people with dementia and their families in a welcoming environment. Currently we are striving to make Dungarvan a dementia-inclusive community and this Memory Café is another step towards reaching this goal.”
Repro Free: Dungarvan, Waterford 19/02/24: Minister of State Mary Butler pictured enjoying tea and chats with Maurice and Kathleen Foley, and Tommy and Margaret Keily in the nostalgic setting of Merry’s Memory Cafe. Launched on the 19th February, this initiative by the Alzheimer’s society of Ireland, together with friends of ASI, is Dungarvan’s first dementia friendly pop up cafe for those living with or affected by dementia. Picture by Chani Anderson
Head of Operations and Community Engagement at The ASI, Siobhan O’Connor, said: “In May of last year, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland was delighted to open a Saturday Daycare service in Dungarvan, was only made possible by the support of the Deise Centre who made their premises available to us. Today, it brings me great joy to see this new Memory Cafe open. We’re indebted to the Friends of ASI Dungarvan for their tireless work to make this dream a reality. It will allow people living with dementia and their families to come together, exchange ideas, and meet each other in a fun, inclusive environment that is designed to cater to their needs. I’d like to thank Minister Mary Butler for the support in opening the daycare service and supporting the opening of the cafe, and for her continued support of The ASI.”
An estimated 1,729 people live with dementia in Waterford, and 63% of people with dementia live in the community in Ireland.
