Ireland must be ambitious for people living with dementia

While awareness and understanding of dementia have evolved, continued action remains vital during World Alzheimer's Month and beyond, writes Andy Heffernan

Each September, World Alzheimer's Month brings greater attention to dementia and the experiences of those affected by it. That attention has never been more necessary.

About 69,949 people are living with dementia in Ireland, according to the latest European prevalence estimates from Alzheimer Europe's report, 'The Prevalence of Dementia in Europe 2025'. That figure is projected to more than double to 151,092 by 2050.

Simply put, dementia is one of the defining health and social challenges of our time.

Central Statistics Office projections serve as a stark reminder we are an ageing population. The number of people aged 65 and over is projected to exceed one million by 2030, while the population aged 85 and over is projected to more than triple by 2057.

Demand for dementia-specific, community-based supports already outstrips supply, a gap that will only widen in the years ahead.

While there are a number of identified risk factors, age remains the single greatest risk factor for dementia. As the number of people living with the condition continues to grow, so too does the pressure on the health service and on supports that are a lifeline for families.

When dementia enters a person's life, most people want the same thing: to remain at home for as long as possible, surrounded by family and in a familiar environment.

Every day, tens of thousands of family carers across Ireland provide unpaid care and support to loved ones living with the condition, helping make this possible while saving the State substantial resources.

High-quality dementia-specific home support is also crucial. It helps people maintain their independence, supports their wellbeing, reduces unnecessary hospital admissions, and can delay the need for long-term care. 

Alongside traditional home care, day care at home provides one-to-one, activity-based support in a person's home, helping to reduce social isolation and promote wellbeing.

In 2025, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland provided more than 126,000 hours of home care and more than 98,000 hours of day care at home, helping people remain in the place they most want to be.

Back in the early 1980s, things looked very different. Dementia was rarely spoken about publicly and support for those affected was extremely limited.

Against this backdrop, Winifred Bligh and Imelda Gillespie established the Alzheimer Society of Ireland in 1982. Their own family experiences exposed the scarcity of support and information available about Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in Ireland at a time when services were virtually non-existent.

Today, much has improved. More people are seeking and receiving a diagnosis, services have expanded, and the conversation around dementia has shifted. A diagnosis that was once viewed primarily through the narrow lens of decline is increasingly understood in a more person-centred and compassionate way. 

We now recognise dementia is only one part of a person's story and does not mean the end of a meaningful life.

Yet that shift in perspective, important as it is, is not enough. People need practical supports that enable them to live well with dementia and remain active members of their communities.

While attitudes towards dementia have evolved, some misconceptions remain. One of the most persistent is that dementia is solely an older person's condition.

How many of us picture someone living with dementia balancing family life, work and financial responsibilities such as paying a mortgage? Yet this is the reality for many people living with young-onset dementia, a diagnosis received before the age of 65.

A diagnosis at any age can be life-altering and highlights the need for responsive, age- and stage-appropriate support.

While there is still much to do, there are reasons for cautious optimism. Significant advances in dementia research in recent years have improved our understanding of a condition that still presents many unanswered questions and have opened new possibilities for treatment. Are these developments cures? No. But nor should we underestimate their significance.

Disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer's disease and enhanced diagnostics such as blood-based biomarkers demonstrate what sustained investment and innovation in research can achieve while offering genuine hope for the future.

Ireland has an important role to play in that work. Across the country, people with lived experience, researchers and healthcare professionals are helping to deepen our understanding of dementia and shape the future of care.

That commitment will be evident this October when Ireland hosts the Alzheimer Europe Conference in Dublin. Bringing together delegates from across Europe, the conference will provide a forum for sharing knowledge and exploring how research, policy and practice can better respond to the needs of those affected. It is an opportunity to help shape Ireland's approach to dementia over the next decade.

Awareness undeniably matters, but awareness alone does not improve lives. We must continue to ensure people living with dementia can participate fully in their communities and live well for as long as possible.

Ireland has made enormous progress over the past four decades. The launch of the National Dementia Strategy in 2014, the HSE’s Model of Care in 2023 and the commitment to dementia in the current programme for government demonstrate the growing recognition of dementia as a national priority. There is great momentum building, and it must be maintained.

By investing in services, supporting carers, advancing research and listening to lived experience, we can continue building a more dementia-inclusive society where people affected by dementia are supported to live well, with dignity, purpose and hope.

Our ambition for the lives of people with dementia extends far beyond September. That was the vision of our founders in 1982. It remains our mission today.

For information and support, or to learn more about the Alzheimer Europe Conference, visit alzheimer.ie 

• Andy Heffernan is chief executive of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland