The  goal of NEIL (Neuro-Enhancement for Independent Lives) at Trinity’s Institute of Neuroscience is to:

Enable independent living and improve quality of life by: conducting research aimed at dementia prevention and cognitive enhancement; transforming this knowledge into empirically grounded interventions; using this knowledge to educate and empower older adults to maintain their cognitive function for as long as possible.

Via http://www.tcd.ie/Neuroscience/neil/

They have produced a number of short films addressing fears about memory loss and providing practical advice about brain health. The topics include the difference between Alzheimers Disease and Dementia , How Memory Works, Tips for day to day living with Alzheimers’s and How We Can Include People Living with Dementia in our Community. All of the films can be viewed here

For further information on the NEIL programme please see their website

Local Terenure resident, Peggy Mangan, left her home on September 24th to walk her dog Casper and tragically never came home. A city wide search took place with over 150 volunteers joining the search party and there were numerous sightings of Peggy Mangan across the city on cctv. Tragically, Peggy Mangan’s body was found five days later in the wasteland beside Ikea on the other side of the city. Her beloved dog Casper was standing by her body but sadly died a couple of hours later.

Peggy Mangan suffered from Alzheimers Disease and like everyone who followed the heartbreaking story in the media that week, we were deeply saddened by the devastating outcome.

The family of the late Peggy Mangan have since gone on to set up a charity, the Peggy Mangan foundation to raise awareness and funds for both those with Alzheimer’s Disease and Missing Persons.  The foundation is organizing a sponsored walk this Saturday, December 14th.  The walk begins at Mount Jerome ceremony in Harold’s Cross and will retrace the route Peggy and her beloved Casper walked to Ikea.  You can register if you would like to take part via the link below or just come along and join in on the day. Pets are welcome also.

http://www.peggymangan.ie/

Having met a member of the Mangan family, we were inspired and humbled by the dedication of her family in setting up their charity and undertaking the massive task of organising this walk in Peggy’s memory and to raise funds for such worthy causes, within such a short time of their loss.  Applewood Homecare will be sponsoring refreshments for all walkers this weekend and will be volunteering at the water station en route.

It’s not too late to register for the walk and please consider coming along and supporting the Peggy Mangan foundation on Saturday.

Applewood Homecare are delighted to announce that we now offering integrated homecare solutions through the addition of Sensormind  to the services we provide.

Sensormind is the most innovative, cost-effective, wireless telecare product available to the Irish market. Sensormind supports independent living in the home and compliments homecare whilst reducing the costs of care requirements.

Based on the feedback from our customers, we have spent many months researching the current telecare options available and the benefits of each option. Assistive technologies can be of huge benefit to those who wish to remain living independently in the home and rather than replace hands on care can compliment homecare.

Sensormind offers peace of mind by ensuring should a person fall, become ill or have an accident at home, help can be gotten quickly.  A person does not need to wear any devices or press buttons as Sensormind detects problems should they arise and automatically calls for help if required.

The following video gives a brief overview of how the product works

The  initial cost of the hardware/setup  of Sensormind is €496 and the cost of 24/7 monitoring with Sensormind is €21 per week which is roughly equivalent to the cost of one hours home care per week.  We are also offering a free 30 day trial of the product.

We are really excited about adding this innovative assistive  service to the care options we provide and  feel it will be a cost-effective care option for many families for the times when hands on care is not required.

If you have any questions about Sensormind please get in touch 01 4992201 or info@applewoodhomecare.ie

The Irish Citizens Senior Parliament are holding a protest rally outside the Dail this afternoon against cuts made in last weeks budget. Today’s demonstration is to protest against several measures in last weeks budget which directly affect the elder members of our population. There is a general opinion, that senior citizens were one of the most targeted groups in last weeks budget, with the increase to prescription charges, lowering of income levels for medical cards, removal of the telephone allowance and the removal of the bereavement grant.

“The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament urges all older, younger and people across the lifecycle to join us tomorrow at 1.15pm outside Dáil Éireann.  Make a special effort to be there alone or with friends and family. Together we can make things happen, apart we will stand divided. Let’s show that the poor, the sick, the old, the young, the frail and disabled can stand up and be counted.

People from all across the country tell us they are travelling in numbers. Hopefully that is true but to make sure you will need to be there too. Don’t leave it to someone else.”

via the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament 

The protest march begins at 1.15pm and people are asked to assemble at Molesworth Street from 1pm and to bring their own placards.

We are delighted to announce that we are bringing our free Community Information Clinics to a second venue! From October 2013, Applewood Community Information Clinics will take place monthly in the Ballyroan Community Centre.

About The Applewood Community Information Clinics

The idea of the  Community Information Clinics came about based on our experience working with the over 65’s locally and from feedback from our service users.

Finding yourself in a situation where you are solely responsible for caring for a loved one at home can often be an overwhelming and sometimes frightening experience. There are supports available but often accessing these supports can be difficult and often the information is not available in a suitable format.

According to the 2011 Census, internet usage among the over 65 population is on the increase however there remains over 300,000 older people in Ireland with no access to the internet. Yet helplines and information phone numbers of state services now direct people to websites for further information or to download forms.

Applewood Community Information Clinics are there to assist people in sourcing information relevant to their situation be that information on revenue or grants available or letting them know about support groups and meetings. We are not there to advise people just to help them source any information that might help in their specific situation.

For example, sourcing information, about; grants and applications, medical cards, pensions, local support groups, home security and providing that information in a suitable format.

The information clinics will take place in the Ballyroan Community Center on the following dates from 11.30am to 1pm

• Wednesday October 9th
• Wednesday November 13th
• Wednesday December 13th

No booking is necessary and we look forward to seeing you on the day.

For further information please phone us on 01 4992201

With projections of rising prevalence, dementia has been described as one of the most urgent public health issues of the 21st Century.  (  Sloane et al 2002)

Via Alzheimer.ie

Currently there are 41,700 people in Ireland living with a form of dementia. It is estimated that this figure will rise to 147,000 by 2041 due to an ageing population. The increase in Alzheimer’s  is a world-wide phenomena. September is  World Alzheimer’s month. Below are some of the resources available to those affected by Alzheimer’s Disease and more information on the prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Dementia Resources in Ireland 

 The Alzheimer Society of Ireland - The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is the leading dementia specific service provider in Ireland providing a number of care and support options for both people with  dementia and their families and carers. The Alzheimer Society provide a free phone helpline which is operated six days a week and can be contacted on 1800 341341

Dementia.ie - The Dementia Services Information  and Development Centre ( DSIDC)is based in St James Hospital, Dublin. It is a national centre for excellence in dementia and is committed to best practice in all aspects of dementia care.   The DSIDC website is a very useful resource and links to several publications which may be of interest to those  with dementia and their carers and the DSIDC  run courses  for both family carers and healthcare professionals.

The Alzheimer Cafe - The Alzheimer Cafe model originated in the Netherlands and is used worldwide. It is based on a social and emotional elements of dementia rather than the medical. The Alzheimer cafes offer a place where those with dementia and their families and friends can come together in a less formal setting to share experiences and support each other. The original Irish Alzheimer Cafe opened in Donnybrook Dublin 4 and there are now several across the county. More information can be found on their website www.alzheimercafe.ie 

Dementia Resources Online

There are thousands of websites offering information tips and advice on Alzheimer’s Disease /Dementia. Googling the word Alzheimer’s will bring up pages and pages of hits which can be overwhelming if you or a loved one have had a recent diagnosis.  While each individuals experience with Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia is unique there are many shared characteristics and by knowing more about these and the experiences of others help us get a better understanding of the disease.

The Alzheimer’s Reading Room- The Alzheimer’s Reading Room is an excellent online resource which links to a large number of detailed articles about Alzheimer’s Disease. The aim of this website is to educate and empower both those living with Alzheimer’s disease/dementia and their family members. There is an excellent search facility on this site allowing to find relevant information from general overviews on the disease to tips on strategies on specific challenges faced by those living with dementia. The site is regularly updated and new content is added daily.

By Us For Us Series of Guides- The University of Waterloo in Canada published a number of guides created by people with dementia and their care givers. The majority of the information and tips in these guides can be applied worldwide and are available to download free on the By Us For Us website. The guides include memory workouts, communication tips, enhancing wellness, mealtimes, grief and tips and strategies. All of the guides were created by  people with dementia for people with dementia and their families.  The By Us For Us Guides are a useful resource for managing daily life with dementia.

Via mamashealth

There are thousands of websites offering information and tips online dealing with both the medical and challenges of living with dementia. Reading first person accounts of living with dementia can offer a unique insight into day to day life with Alzheimer Disease and there are a number of blogs written by people with dementia and by those caring for a loved with one Alzheimer’s Disease, online. Here are some worth reading

Watching The Lights Go Out

Sharing My Life With Lewy Bodies Disease

Living With Alzheimer’s

Diagnosis Alzheimer’s

Senator Mary White launched the Applewood Community Information Clinics last Friday,June 28th, in the Terenure Enterprise Centre.

Senator White spoke about some of the issues older people currently encounter in Ireland and Neil O’Reilly of Applewood Homecare spoke about how we all have a role have to play in making local communities more age friendly. Several family members of our service users, local businesses and  local GP’s all joined us in the Enterprise Centre to launch this new free service.

About The Community Information Clinics

The idea of the  Community Information Clinics came about based on our experience working with the over 65’s locally and from feedback from our service users.

Finding yourself in a situation where you are solely responsible for caring for a loved one at home can often be an overwhelming and sometimes frightening experience. There are supports available but often accessing these supports can be difficult and often the information is not available in a suitable format.

According to the 2011 Census, internet usage among the over 65 population is on the increase however there remains over 300,000 older people in Ireland with no access to the internet. Yet helplines and information phone numbers of state services now direct people to websites for further information or to download forms.

Applewood Community Information Clinics are there to assist people in sourcing information relevant to their situation be that information on revenue or grants available or letting them know about support groups and meetings. We are not there to advise people just to help them source any information that might help in their specific situation.

For example, sourcing information, about; grants and applications, medical cards, pensions, local support groups, home security and providing that information in a suitable format.

Applewood Community Information Clinic Times and Location

The Information clinics will take place twice a month in the Terenure Enterprise Centre on the 1st and 3rd Weds of every month from 11am-12.30pm . No appointment is necessary, this is a completely free service and is open to anybody over 65 or anybody caring for a loved one at home. We hope to bring the Information Clinics to other local communities throughout 2013 .

Thank you to everybody who joined us at the launch last weekend and we appreciate all help in spreading the word on this free service. If you require any further information please get in touch.

The Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland’s annual Tea Day fundraiser takes place on May 9th.

Tea Day is a national day of celebration to honour the memories of people affected by Alzheimer’s.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is asking people to organize their own Tea Day to help raise much needed funds for local services to those affected by Alzheimer’s Disease.

You can register online  or phone 1 800 719820 to register your tea day event and receive a poster/invites.

For more information see www.alzheimer.ie 

Today is World Meningitis Day.

Ireland has the highest incidence of meningococcal disease in Europe, with over twice the average disease rate. Meningitis can kill within 24 hours of symptom onset.

Stay vigilant and know the symptoms . Symptoms may include all or some of the following

• Fever
• Vomiting
• Severe headache
• Painfully stiff neck
• Sensitivity to light
• Very sleepy
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Non blanching rash (doesn’t disappear under pressure)

More information can be found from Meningitis: Keep Watching

1.Sixteen  year old Donal Walsh from Cork shares his cancer story in The Irish Independent . A hugely inspirational young man whose bravery and faith is humbling.

Donal Walsh: ” I wanted to live, to play for Munster, to travel the whole world”

via Independent.ie

  2. Gizmodo.com shared this fantastic video of ageing in action. Watch what ageing looks like from one to one hundred and two years old.

What Ageing From One Year Old To 102 Years Old Looks Like And What It Means

3.After the horror of the bombs at the Boston Marathon last week, this  piece from Jezebal.com about gives an insight into the people who watch marathons.

The People Who Watch Marathons

4. Muriel is a 94 year old woman. Muriel is a quilter and has over 25,000 followers on Twitter and Buzzfeed this week called her the best person on Twitter. If use Twitter we recommend you follow her for her unique and entertaining comments into her world.

The Best Person On Twitter Is A 94 Year Old Quilter

Via Buzzfeed

5. Joan Bakewell writes for The Telegraph this week on turning 80. An honest and upfront account of what life holds next.

At 80 You Hold On And Prepare For What’s Next