Donegal native Charlie McGinley, Community Engagement Officer of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI), celebrated the success of The ASI’s ‘Creating a Dementia Inclusive Generation’ Transition Year Programme at Our Lady’s Hospice (OLH), Harold’s Cross Dublin on March 7th in the Lead-Up to Brain Awareness Week.
The event featured speakers such as Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler TD, Director of The Dementia Services Information and Development Centre (DSIDC), Matthew Gibb, and past programme participants.
An innovative post-primary school programme, ‘Creating a Dementia Inclusive Generation’, aims to educate young people about Dementia and the impact it has, not only on the person living with Dementia but also its impact on the extended family and the Carers.
Over 2,400 students in 50 schools (including seven in Donegal) across 17 counties have engaged with the programme since its launch in 2022.
(Pictured above is Izzie Kinsella, Charlie McGinley, and Catherine O’Leary of The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Community Engagement Team.)
Mr McGinley said: “The feedback to this innovative programme has been fantastic. From visiting schools and talking to students and TY coordinators, they are getting so much from the programme.
“This is a programme based on empowerment – giving the youth of society the knowledge to play a key role in diminishing the stigma around dementia- and making the world a safer, and more inviting place, for people living with dementia.”
The Transition Year programme was created with the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre (DSIDC) at St James’ Hospital Dublin.
The project is an official Challenge Partner with An Gaisce The President’s Award, which includes the added opportunity for Gaisce participants to fulfil challenge area requirements. Arthur Cox kindly sponsored the programme.
This E-learning programme contains five modules of self-directed learning on the Moodle platform. These include: Growing Older, The Brain, Brain Health, What is Dementia? and Perceptions of Dementia – all of which aim to help and facilitate knowledge, discussion, awareness and caring for those with Dementia and older people in general.
Anyone interested in the programme can visit: http://ow.ly/1mCy50NhG8E or contact communityengagement@alzheimer.ie.
