Moves which could lead to a better quality of life for people with dementia and their families were confirmed yesterday by the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) on the eve of World Alzheimer's Day.
They include a project to train support workers to provide respite care by staying overnight and at weekends in the homes of people with dementia.
In another ERHA project, at St James's Hospital, Dublin, wards will be made more homely with families encouraged to bring in furniture familiar to long-stay patients.
More than 23,000 people with dementia are cared for at home by their families, the director of the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre said yesterday.
The centre is based at St James's Hospital and works with professionals and health providers to provide high standards of care to people with dementia.
About 60 per cent of cases of dementia are caused by Alzheimer's disease and the centre is marking World Alzheimer's Day by launching a website aimed at health service professionals. Providing respite care in the home has many benefits for people with dementia, says the centre's director, Ms Suzanne Cahill.
"It delays institutionalisation and improves their quality of life. People often think most people with dementia are in nursing homes but three-quarters are still in the community. The whole burden of care is carried by family members, especially by women."
The ERHA project is relatively small - no more than about 10 families are likely to be involved in the experimental stage - but the aim is that it will provide a model for the health boards in the eastern region and for health boards throughout the country, according to Ms Cahill.
In addition to those cared for at home, more than 7,000 people with dementia are in institutions and, again, most of these have Alzheimer's.
While dementia is seen as an old person's disease, Ms Cahill says younger people can and do suffer from the condition.
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland has set up a national helpline at 1800 341 341
Weblinks: Dementia Services Information and Development Centre: http://www.dementia.ie Alzheimer Society of Ireland: http://www.alzheimer.ie/