27/09/2024
Yesterday's information sharing event at the Kinsale Primary Care Centre was interesting and informative. I know that perhaps many people did not get the opportunity to attend, so I have attempted to put together what information was available and how to reach out and connect. There was some wonderful news in that the memory café will be rebooted in November, a new support group appears to be on the cards and the DCC service is back.
1. The Dementia Care Coordinator Service is operational once again, this is a valuable service, whose 'mission is to deliver quality dementia specific social supports through person-centred home-based services, supporting family and care partners.’ The HSE dementia care office is open between 9am and 5pm.
Bernadette Horgan – Dementia Care Coordinator – 021/4923998
2. Harbour Café – the HSE DCC service are reintroducing the memory café. It will be the first Wednesday of every month but with a different time of 1:30pm to 3:30pm. Fantastic to see this service coming back. It is a safe ‘place for people living with memory related issues and their friends and family to connect over tea and cake.’
November 6th 2024
The Carmelite Friary, Lower Catholic Walk, Kinsale.
1:30pm – 3:30pm
3. Memory Technology Resource Room (MTRR): A HSE, Dementia Understand Together and the National Dementia office initiative that is ‘a national free service, providing practical information and advice on assistive technologies and supportive strategies to help people at different stages of dementia and memory loss.’ You can ask your GP or local healthcare team for a referral or contact the Occupational Therapist directly.
MTRR Occupational Therapist
Westfield Integrated Care Centre, Ballincollig.
021 4923414
4. Age Friendly Ireland – Healthy Age Friendly Homes. This is a wonderful free service that provides support on housing, health, finance, community, technology, climate and energy. Their mission is to support older people to live in their own home with dignity and independence for as long as possible. They achieve this by meeting with’ older people in their own home and assisting them with accessing any grants, services or useful links that may be beneficial to them.’
Website https://agefriendlyireland.ie/healthy-age-friendly-homes-programme/
To arrange a free visit from your local coordinator, contact the national office.
046 924 8899
Or email: [email protected]
Kinsale local coordinator: Aisling O’Sullivan
Please do remember that there are other services also available in the area:
The primary healthcare team – situated over SuperValu on the New Rd.
021 4779800
Kinsale Day Care Centre – beside Kinsale Community hospital. The Day Centre is open Monday to Friday and caters for up to 20 people per day. If you wish to avail of this particular facility, do ask your GP. The centre provides social and medical supports.
021 4709625
Kinsale Men’s Shed – a community based project where men can socialise, share skills, learn and make lasting friendships. The Kinsale Men’s Shed is a dementia inclusive club.
Contact: John O’Connor 086 3856152
Haven Bay Care Centre – a holistic resident focused care home, that is tailored to meet individual needs and support ability. Full time residential, convalescent and respite care.
Contact: 021 4777328 or email [email protected]
Kinsale Community Hospital – Full time, convalescent or respite care.
Contact: 021 4772202
South Cork Dementia Adviser – the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland have a free and confidential service. The adviser will call to your home if required.
Karen Jennings: 087 2541319 or email
[email protected]
While I no longer volunteer as the Kinsale Community Dementia Champion, there is still the possibility of a support group in the pipeline. I spoke with the HSE social worker Chloe at the information sharing event and she is hoping to get one up and running. We will have to watch this space.
And while Covid, life and family tragedy has lowered my activity on my volunteer page ForgetMeNot, I will keep it running and continue to share posts to it when I can. There is of course my actual business:
KinCo – Kinsale & Communities Dementia Support: with over ten years experience in dementia care and studies, I am an independent certified dementia trainer with Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care ; I am a supervisor and tutor for the QQI Dementia Home-programme and offer nursing homes and community/ family homes behavioural support assessments and plans; While also offering healthcare professionals, community services and families education and training in dementia and communication.
Linda Jordan: 087 7884771 or email [email protected]
