BY HARRYWALSH
DUE to our ageing population and longer life expectancy, diseases that affect older people are on the rise. More than 38,000 Irish people - 1,600 in Donegal - have Alzheimer's. This figure is expected to treble over the next thirty years. Research has not yet found what causes this disease.
Across Donegal, a voluntary committee operates a Home Care scheme that provides over 2,500 hours of respite care per month to assist those who care for Alzheimer's sufferers to continue to care for the sufferers in their home.
Letterkenny man Alastair McKinney is chairman of the Donegal branch of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
"There is still a stigma against Alzheimer's. For years, Alzheimer's was associated with mental illness," Mr McKinney said.
Like with any disease, early detection and treatment are needed to slow the progression. The biggest risk factor for Alzheimer's is age. One in 10 people age 65 and older have Alzheimer's; that number climbs to 50 percent in those age 85 and older. Though not widely realised, Alzheimer's can affect people in their 30s and 40s, too.
"There are three basic stages: Forgetfulness, challenging behaviour and final stage when the person is bed-ridden and doesn't recognise anyone," Mr McKinney explained.
Alzheimer's patients typically live 10 years after diagnosis. They die due to complications of the disease, where the body forgets how to circulate blood, swallow, blink and breath.
Like most of the committee members, Alastair has first hand experience of the disease. His late mother, Annie (nee Rodgers), passed away with the disease in September 2000.
"Mum's disease was relatively short lived. She was 68 or 69 years of age when she first started to show the signs of Alzheimer's and she was 72 when she died. She spent her last year in St Joseph's Hospital," he said.
"We currently help 89 clients through the Home Care scheme. We also provide day care at the Community Centre in Gweedore two days per week while we hope to start a one-day service in Glenties before the end of the year. A further 41 clients are helped through a FÁS-funded Community Employment scheme," he added.
However, the 120 patients helped by these schemes represent less than eight per cent of the 1,600 sufferers in Donegal.
Last month, the Donegal branch received funding from the HSE to deliver 200 '10-hour' periods of Home Respite Service for weekday nights and weekends.
Mr McKinney said that the purpose of this service is to provide a trained carer to families of persons with dementia in order to allow them to attend planned excursions or family events over an extended period or to attend short-notice family events such as funerals, medical or family emergencies.
The Branch does not run specific fund-raising events as they have always been able to rely on the initiative of people who want to 'remember those who cannot remember'.
Indeed, last Saturday Mr McKinney travelled to Dunkineely to accept a 50,000 euro cheque, the proceeds from this year's Dunkineely Community Festival.
"These people know that all monies raised in Donegal are spent in Donegal. The donations and fund-raising of over ¤50,000 in 2005 were gathered through our Church gate collection in February, Tea Day in May, a Flag Day in July ands a Hero Day educational promotion in schools in September, as well as funds raised at dances, table quizzes, sponsored walks, women's mini marathon and carol concerts," he said.
"We appreciate the encouragement and financial support that we receive from the public and remind them that they can also give by considering the sufferer and the carers," he added.
When asked how people could help, Mr McKinney said they offer a listening ear, a kind word or helping hard to the carers while giving the sufferer compassion and dignity.
"I hear people saying that someone with Alzheimer's is 'no longer the person they once knew'. Okay, they might no longer be able to take part in the banter about the local football team or give the price of a bullock but they're still human beings even if they can no longer communicate in the same way," he said.
With a general election less than a year away, Mr McKinney recently wrote to all six TDs, MEPs and Councillors calling on them to make a statement in acknowledgement of the impact of dementia in Donegal and the tireless work of carers, volunteers and dementia-specific staff.
"I haven't received too many replies yet but we're determined to make it an election issue. We're also looking for an opportunity to address Donegal County Council and make a short presentation on the work that the Alzheimer Society of Ireland does throughout Donegal," he said.
The Donegal branch is also actively looking for people to train as carers, especially in the Letterkenny area.
"We'll give them basic training in lifting and health and safety, cleaning, toileting and how to deal with challenging behaviour," he said.
The services are run by two co-ordinators and secretary from Mill Row, Donegal Town, which were officially opened by the Patron of ASI, President Mary McAleese, earlier this year.
Alzheimer's is a medical condition that robs people of their memories and personalities. For the families and caregivers, it is traumatic. For the person living with Alzheimer's, the experience can be confusing, frustrating and scary.
For further information contact the County Donegal office, 2 Mill Row, Donegal Town. telephone (074) 0722795.
