The dream of the Leighlinbridge dementia action plan

THE dream for Leighlin Dementia Friendly Community Group is to create a “collective caring in a safe environment” in the village, said its chairperson Helen Jordan.

The group launched its action plan in Leighlinbridge Parish Centre before approximately 80 people. The attendees included representatives from Bethany House, Mental Health Ireland, carers based in Carlow and Kilkenny, local community groups and community policing.

It also held a panel discussion with local GP Dr Tom Foley, David Walsh of Halocare and local carer Elizabeth Maher. Elizabeth had looked after her late mother at home and “was able to speak about it very openly about how it affected her,” said Helen. She added that they wanted the event to be uplifting and positive, to do something with elderly people suffering from dementia and their carers, who are currently “put to the pin of their collar to help”.

As part of the action plan preparation, the group undertook a needs analysis and population mapping of the Leighlin area, including a survey that received 188 responses from people in the area. The results informed the short- and long-term action plan for making Leighlin a dementia-friendly area.

The group also presented benches made by Tullow Men’s Shed to Carlow Mental Health Association, which will be installed along the pathway surrounding the community playing fields, a safe place for the elderly in the area to sit, chat and relax.

The idea for a dementia-friendly community group was the brainchild of Helen, who worked at Beechwood Nursing Home in Leighlinbridge and later as a practice nurse with Dr Foley. “Everybody knows someone with dementia,” she noted, but “the condition was hidden; people didn’t want to let on and getting a diagnosis took forever.” 

After 15 single unit homes were built beside the parish centre, she spoke to Fr Tom Lalor about doing something for residents with dementia. They got together groups of volunteers to organise weekly meet-ups and trips. “There’s a great community, and I mean that sincerely,” said Helen.

But the problem remained: “There is nothing available for people with memory loss and for elderly people who are caring for their family members,” she noted. “I saw that where people had to bring loved ones to Carlow, it was a nightmare to get them out of their house to attend a day care centre, and when they can get there, some people are waiting six months for a place.” 

Helen wanted to know how they could create a day care service in Leighlinbridge.

To get the ball rolling, she visited care facilities around the country and held workshops with Tara Rice of the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland. An even greater dream took form in Helen’s mind – to create a series of communal houses connected to the community where people with dementia could be taken care of by a combination of volunteers and professionals.

“We really do need people with money and grants to get behind us to do more,” said Helen of the challenges the group faces going forward.

Minister of state Jennifer Murnane O’Connor spoke very highly of the plan on the evening of the launch and Helen described her as being “very proactive” on the issue.