The National Dementia Strategy was launched on 17 December 2014 by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Joan Burton and Minister Kathleen Lynch. We really welcome the publication of this document and the commitment the government has made to raising awareness about dementia within our country. It is through raising awareness that we can create positive long term change. The strategy outlines that funding has been made available for three priority areas- namely intensive home care supports, GP education and training and dementia awareness. We are really grateful that our project lead and consortium member, Dr. Caitriona Crowe was a member of the National Dementia Strategy Working Group that produced this document. We feel it is important and positive that a working group with everyday experiences of dementia and dementia care got to influence what the strategy entails so that the person with dementia is always at the center.
The strategy can be downloaded from the Department of Health Website.

"Former Tipp Hurling Star opens library for dementia sufferers", The Nationalist, September 2014
"South Tipp pilot project to aid dementia patients at home" :The Nationalist, August 2012
'Keeping care in the home', Health Supplement, Irish Times, September 2012
'South Tipperary rolls out pilot project to aid Alzheimers and dementia sufferers', The Nationalist, February 2013

This is a very touching video from one of the carers we met in the early days of our project. When we met Jason he was caring for his mother at home. The 5 Steps offered Jason some support with this, but you might like to listen to Jason tell his own story, in a video he made himself in December 2012; 

The Five Steps Project would like to thank Jason for taking the time to make this video and to think about what the project meant to him and his mother. It's really great to see the influence a simple approach can have on someone's quality of life and the feedback on the supports is invaluable. Thank you Jason :)  

Peggy our community connector is always out and about, meeting people and creating community links to enhance the lived experiences for those with dementia. Peggy has great knowledge and experiences in dementia and has been working really hard to meet with local groups, invested in local communities and local people. Peggy's has been so busy since she began her post almost eleven months ago, making huge progress in terms of creating links, highlighting whats available in local communities, developing community groups and creating awareness about dementia. And her good work continues as she is set to be very busy in the coming months. As part of her role, Peggy provides education, training and dementia awareness to local community groups, at their request. Over the coming months Peggy will be out and about in the following areas;

• Cappawhite Day Center; February 26th, 2pm-4pm
• Millenium Resource Center, Glengoole; March 14th, 2pm-4pm
• Spafield Resource Center, Cashel; March 23rd, 11am-1pm
• O'Sullivan's Pharmacy Fethard; March 24th, 10am-1pm

f your interested in having an informal chat to Peggy in relation to dementia, please feel free to attend one of these information sessions. Otherwise you can always use our "Contact Us" section! 

In December last, Genio facilitated the Annual Dementia Conference on Friday the 12th. This event enabled health professionals, family members, carers, academics and volunteers to come together for a valuable day of shared learning. The event was created under the themes of "Listening; The Lived Experience", "Understanding; Value and Values" and "Enhancing; Collective Approaches to Change". To enhance these themes, Genio presented short films on the day. These films involved many members of the Genio part-funded projects (in association with Atlantic Philanthropies and the Health Service Executive) across Ireland, including our project here, "The Five Step to Living Well with Dementia in South Tipperary". These are really interesting video's to see and feel the impact these projects are having across the country on the lives of those living with dementia.

We'd like to also take this opportunity to thank those that graciously gave up their time, their energies and their courage to participate in making these short videos. It's not always easy to share your reality, but by sharing we are all learning, so thank you.

Follow the link below to see the short videos titled; "Family Perspective" and "Experiences of Consortium Members".