'It's keeping him going': Families call for more funds for Alzheimer Society Cork centre

Bessboro Day Care Centre has 200 people on a waiting list for its services for people with dementia or Alzheimer's

Breeda Horan, 70, and her husband Ger, 72, at the Alzheimer Society of Ireland Tea Day in Cork. Ger is a college lecturer who was diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia in his early 60s. Picture: Chani Anderson

A call has been made for increased funding to meet the growing demand for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland's (ASI) Cork centre, which has around 200 people with dementia on a waiting list.

The centre offers day-care with activities, as well as home services and activities for under-65s with dementia or Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer Society of Ireland southern region operations manager Breda Twohig set out the pressures during the annual Tea Party fundraiser on Saturday in Bessboro.

Kieran and Maria O’Donovan with their newest grandchild enjoying the Alzheimer Society of Ireland annual Tea Day fundraiser at Bessboro Day Centre, Cork, on Saturday. Picture: Chani Anderson

“We’d have about 10 under-65s and that’s only the people we can accept. We’ve over 22 clients here every day,” she said.

“We’ve 200 on the waiting list. There’s people here who could come for five days but we can’t take them five days. We take them for one day and some come for three. [That] is the most we can do.” 

She welcomed funding increases in recent years but stressed: “The staff are key really. They are the whole experience for somebody with dementia.” 

Claire and Betty Keohane enjoying the Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s annual Tea Day fundraiser in Cork on Saturday. Picture: Chani Anderson

They are trying to expand further in west Cork but have found it challenging to hire carers.

“People all genuinely want to mind their loved ones at home but they can’t do it alone and they actually break down,” she said.

“Families would take 10 hours [a week] if we could give it to them so we have to be fair to people and be fair to where carers are situated.” 

Breeda Horan, 70, from Carrigaline with her husband Ger, 72, was one of those at the fundraiser.

Breeda Horan, 70, from Carrigaline with her husband Ger, 72, at Saturday's Alzheimer Society of Ireland annual Tea Day fundraiser in Cork. Picture: Chani Anderson

Ger was diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia in his early 60s, leaving the former National Maritime College of Ireland lecturer unable to work, Breeda said. 

It’s been very hard for him, very hard. He looks perfect to people but if you go five minutes beyond that, you know there’s something wrong.

He attends the centre two days a week, which she said is “a godsend really for both of us” now.

“I think it’s keeping him going with all the therapies, the caring and he loves the music,” she said. 

“I think it’s the people here, the environment. He was always a people person.” For herself, she noticed a difference from the start also.

Pat Dillon enjoying some time in the memory garden at the Bessboro Day Centre with her grandson Aaron during the Alzheimer Society of Ireland annual Tea Day fundraiser on Saturday. Picture: Chani Anderson

“It was like a weight off your shoulders,” she said. “I could relax for a bit and I knew he was very safe here.” 

She is unsure what the future holds and is already discussing this with their adult children.

“I’m 70 now, so you can keep doing it as long as you think you can,” she said quietly.

Alzheimer Society of Ireland southern region operations manager Breda Twohig in the memory garden at the Bessboro Day Centre in Cork. Picture: Chani Anderson

Minister of state for older people Kieran O’ Donnell announced this month the HSE has commissioned the first national dementia registry.

This will map services and identify gaps nationally. It will gather data on medications and people’s quality of life also.