Developing a National Dementia Strategy

 As our population ages and as the incidence and prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease (the most common form of dementia) continues to rise, the urgency for Ireland to develop its own National Dementia Strategy has never been so real. In recognition of this, the government recently made a commitment to develop a National Dementia Strategy by 2013. The Strategy will be developed by (i) reviewing the evidence based research, (ii) establishing an Advisory Committee to oversee and guide the Strategy’s development and (iii) engaging in extensive community consultation.

As a first phase in the development of this National Strategy and to create the required evidence base, a major research review has been commissioned. This research review will be completed in December 2011 and its key findings will be presented at a national conference due to take place in Trinity College Dublin on 18 January 2012. This review addresses questions such as: what are current and projected prevalence rates of dementia in Ireland; what are the main economic costs of dementia care; what type of services are currently available to people with dementia in Ireland and, given demographic projections, what type of service will be required in the future to adequately address the unique and chronic needs of this very vulnerable population?

The conference brings together several international experts who themselves have played a critical role in the development of National Dementia Strategies in their own countries. It will mark the completion of phase one of the dementia research review and will showcase the evidence-base that will inform our government's development of Ireland’s first National Dementia Strategy. International speakers include: Florence Lustman (France), Glenn Rees (Australia), Knut Engedal (Norway) and Alistair Burns (UK).
This conference will be of interest to policy makers, practitioners, researchers, advocates and anyone providing services to people with dementia in Ireland.

http://www.socialwork-socialpolicy.tcd.ie/livingwithdementia/

This Conference is being organised by the Living with Dementia research programme (LiD), at Trinity College Dublin in partnership with the Dementia Services Information Development Centre (DSIDC), at St James's Hospital, Dublin 8 and the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, at the National University Ireland, Galway

If you have any queries please contact Caroline +353 (1) 896 2442 or email forsytc@tcd.ie