There are over 64,000 people currently living with dementia in Ireland with this number expected to rise over the next years (estimate of over 150,000 by 2045. More than half of people living with dementia are living in the family home but the number of supports available to them and their family care partners are very limited, especially if they are in more rural parts of the country. Some people living with dementia find the diagnosis to be a difficult thing to share with family and friends. Unfortunately, there is also some stigma attached to dementia, with some people not understanding what it is and how to interact with someone who has received this diagnosis. In 2022 a group of volunteers opened the Skerries Forget-me-Not Café and there have been over 45 visitors to each monthly café since October. This shows the need in the community. With this in mind, we at the Skerries Forget-me-Not Café are proposing to host 3 dementia and creativity awareness talks over the Spring and 3 over the Autumn months in 2023. This will be on a different day from the café, but will be offered to that group and any others living with dementia in the community.

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.