Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Dementia Awareness & Tea Day

(Pictured above, left to right, Kenneth Redmond, Arts Officer, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. Therese Langan. Director of Community and Cultural Development, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. Councillor Lettie McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. Jason Dempsey, Alzheimer Society of Ireland. Photo by Peter Cavanagh)

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is organising a Dementia Awareness Day on Tuesday 10th May from 11a.m – 4p.m in dlr LexIcon, Dún Laoghaire.

To celebrate Bealtaine, and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) National Tea Day, the event is taking place to inform the public and raise awareness about the various social and cultural supports that are available to people with Dementia and their families, carers and friends in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown (dlr).

The event will take place on Level 3, dlr LexIcon, Haigh Terrace, Dún Laoghaire.

Everyone is welcome to drop in, no booking is required.

All attendees can also enjoy tea/coffee and sandwiches as dlr LexIcon is hosting the ASI National Tea Day on the day.

Pictured, left to right,
Kenneth Redmond, Arts Officer, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
Councillor Lettie McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
Therese Langan. Director of Community and Cultural Development, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
Photo by Peter Cavanagh

Launching the event, An Cathaoirleach, Councillor Lettie McCarthy encouraged everyone to attend.

“Many social and cultural supports are available to people diagnosed with Dementia, their carers and families and we hope that the day will raise awareness of these supports and also provide an opportunity to take part and engage in new activities available in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown,” she said.

“It will also be an opportunity for people and families living with Dementia to inform the participating organisations of the assistance and supports that they need, and I would encourage everyone to attend this Dementia awareness and information sharing event.”

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) will have their Mobile Information Bus parked outside the LexIcon on Haigh Terrace, beside the pond area, from 11-4p.m on the 10th May.

This bus travels through towns, villages and cities around the country providing information and support to people with dementia and their families as well as those concerned about their cognitive health.

The social and cultural supports provided by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for people with Dementia, families, carers and friends will also be highlighted on the day.

Taster sessions of the Dementia Inclusive Gallery Tours will take place every hour, organised by the dlr Arts Office.

The various Dementia inclusive library supports that are available to the public, including the Tovertafels / Magic Tables and accessible books and resources will be on display and promoted.

DLR Sports Partnership will also demonstrate ‘Go For Life Games’, which are fun and inclusive activities to support coordination and muscle movement, outside on the green area in front of dlr LexIcon.

A host of local support organisations will have information and representatives available on the day promoting the creative and social Dementia support services available in dlr.

These include Living Well with Dementia; The Memory Harbour, Clonskeagh; The Dementia Café; The Memory Technology Resource Room, St. Columcille’s Hospital; Siel Bleu exercise classes and more.

The Dementia Awareness Day is a key event in the dlr Bealtaine Festival Programme.

The Bealtaine Festival is the national annual celebration of the arts and creativity as we age, organised by Age & Opportunity with information on dlr Bealtaine events available at https://events.dlrcoco.ie/event/bealtaine-2022