A dementia cafe has opened in south Dublin to help older residents, particularly those with dementia, to deal with the isolation they face.
The cafe, which can be found at Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre (RICC), will aim to provide a much needed social outlet for local residents with dementia, and their relatives and carers. 90-year-old Banshees of Inisherin star Sheila Flitton attended the launch, along with Minister for Inclusion Josepha Madigan and representatives from the Active Retirement Group.
"The RICC Dementia Cafe and Tranquillity and Sensory Gardens will incorporate activities into the service specific to the needs of people with dementia and the various stages of dementia," a spokesperson has said. The activities programme will be developed in consultation with the services users and their chosen representatives.
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The sensory gardens are currently open to the community and are very well utilised by the community including the creche, the after-school program, youth services, play therapists, and groups and families that have children with special needs.
There are approximately 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland. The number is expected to increase significantly in the coming years, rising to 68,216 people by 2021 and to 132,000 people by 2041, according to Alzheimer's Society of Ireland.
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