COVID-19 is having a profound impact on the work of The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) and this, in turn, is greatly impacting those people for whom The ASI cares and provides support. 48 day-care centres have been closed and vital supports such as Social Clubs, Alzheimer Cafes and Support Groups have been suspended for the foreseeable future. Many people with dementia and their family carers are alone and feel isolated. But they are not forgotten. The ASI’s Home Care, Dementia Adviser service, National Helpline and Online Family Carer Training are all still operating. In addition, new ways of providing support remotely to people with dementia and their families are being implemented, including regular telephone calls and activity packages for people to use in their own homes.
ASI Dementia Adviser, Maeve Montgomery said:
“I have been making phone calls and sending emails and everyone has been very understanding and delighted to get a call. Family members are protecting older members by staying out but keeping in touch. Many are delivering groceries to the doorstep and waving from a safe distance”.
ASI National Helpline Adviser, Elaine Crocker said:
“It is a very worrying time for carers at the moment, their job is twice as difficult now as very often people with dementia may not have an understanding on the importance of cross infection control and carers are very worried about how best to protect their loved one from the virus, callers are needing a lot of support and reassurance with this”.
ASI Research Officer, Laura O' Philbin and ASI Policy and Research Manager, Bernadette Rock said:
“Last week we surveyed 147 people with dementia, family carers and community champions on their current challenges associated with COVID-19 and what they feel ASI could do to support them through this. From this, we wrote a brief report and recommendations that will help ASI to make informed decisions and take action in this pandemic”.
