Dementia inclusive community event to come to Drogheda

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI) has announced its upcoming Drogheda Dementia Inclusive Community Event, which will take place at 7 pm on Thursday, 30th May at St. Peter's Church of Ireland on Peter St, Drogheda.

The event aims to encourage people, businesses, and services in Drogheda to create a dementia-inclusive community.

The Friends of ASI is a dementia-inclusive programme. 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. People living with dementia are among the most marginalised in our society and can often face social exclusion and stigma.

This initiative is working alongside the HSE’s Dementia: Understand Together campaign. Dementia: Understand Together, a national partnership between The ASI, HSE, Age Friendly Ireland, Age & Opportunity, Dementia Services Information and Development Centre, and Healthy Ireland, encourages community members and people living with dementia to make their communities more dementia-inclusive.

Head of Operations and Community Engagement at The ASI, Siobhan O’Connor, said: "Since we opened our Tredagh Lodge Day Care Centre in Drogheda two years ago, it has become a vital outlet for people living with dementia and their families. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s commitment to supporting those affected by dementia remains as we strive to create a community where people living with the condition feel heard, understood and valued.”

ASI Drogheda Branch Chairperson, Gerry Leydon said: "Dementia is not simply a health issue, but a social issue that requires a community response. We encourage everyone in Drogheda to join us as we embark on this exciting and important initiative to build a community of dementia inclusivity.”

In 2022, The ASI marked a significant milestone with the opening of the Tredagh Lodge Day Care Centre in Drogheda, a project that was made possible through 25 years of fundraising and lobbying by its volunteers, Drogheda Branch, the local committee, and businesses, Louth County Council, their officials and the people of Drogheda and surrounding areas.

This event highlights The ASI's dedication to supporting individuals affected by dementia in Drogheda, following the successful launch of similar events in various counties across Ireland. In November 2023, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland celebrated the launch of Mahon Point Shopping Centre as the first dementia-inclusive shopping centre in the country.

St. Peter’s Church of Ireland is on Peter Street, Drogheda, Co.Louth A92 XP84

For more information, please contact friendsofasi@alzheimer.ie