The fundraising arm of St. Luke’s Home is delighted to announce a FREE Community Dementia Service for the people of Cork. St. Luke’s Home has been looking after Cork’s older population for over 140 years and have a well established reputation in that regard. In recent years we have developed a particular expertise in the area of dementia. In addition to managing a large residential Dementia Specific Unit at the Home, St. Luke’s is a key provider of education to all those working in the sector, again with an emphasis in the area of dementia. A weekly daycare operation at St. Luke’s Home offers Tuesdays and Thursdays exclusively to clients with dementia. Now, St. Luke’s is expanding it’s services further to offer a FREE Community Dementia Service. We know from our research and experience that when someone receives a diagnosis of dementia life can suddenly become scary, lonely, isolating and very uncertain. Early intervention with the services is very important to normalise what is happening and to equip the person who has been diagnosed and their familiy with information to live as well as possible despite the diagnosis and to be prepared for the changes ahead.

This service aims to provide:

• A single point of contact for people with dementia and their families, available to them at any stage following a diagnosis of dementia right up to end of life.

• Provide individualised information and advice such as:

=> Information about dementia and how it is likely to progress.

=> The impact of this diagnosis and how it can effect relationships.

=> Practical strategies to help with memory and communication.

=> Planning for the future.

=> Practical advice on how to provide assistance to a person with dementia.

• Signposting to additional services and supports that are available in the community.

• Increased awareness and information about dementia to the wider community.

• Information sessions for people who have been recently diagnosed with dementia.

• Information sessions for family members who now find themselves taking on the role as carers to a person with dementia.

• A monthly Memory Café for people with dementia and their family.

• Develop a service where people can find out about and see samples of products which are designed to help people living with dementia.