news – Dementia Services Information and Development Centre https://dementia.ie Awareness Through Education Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:19:07 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://dementia.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cropped-dementia-favicon-32x32.png news – Dementia Services Information and Development Centre https://dementia.ie 32 32 Rethinking Intimacy and Relationships in Dementia Symposium https://dementia.ie/2026/04/rethinking-intimacy-and-relationships-in-dementia-symposium/ Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:16:51 +0000 https://dementia.ie/?p=10713 Read more]]> We are excited to announce that we will be holding our Rethinking Intimacy and Relationships in Dementia Symposium on Wednesday 20th May, from 09:00 – 15:00, in the Guinness Enterprise Centre.

Our relationship with sex and intimacy changes as we age. Even as our physical and mental capabilities may be in decline, our need for intimacy, in whatever form, often continues to burn brightly. However, individually and as a society, there is often an ambivalence towards intimacy between adults with dementia, with much pearl-clutching and hand-wringing resulting.

What is increasingly apparent, though, is that consenting sex, intimacy, and relationships are a vital part of healthy ageing and should be facilitated where possible.

Come and join us and our expert speakers on 20th May to help shine a light on this important topic.

This is a free event and all are welcome.
To book your ticket, please follow the link below:
https://dementiaandintimacy.eventbrite.ie

]]> Award winning Microlearning https://dementia.ie/2025/12/award-winning-e-learning/ Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:24:38 +0000 https://dementia1.wpenginepowered.com/?p=10617 Read more]]>

In September 2025, DSiDC have won The Best Digital Learning Initiative at this year’s L&DI Excellence in Learning Awards.

Our initiative: Implementing Microlearning for Healthcare Professionals aims to improve healthcare workforce training by using technology-driven microlearning, making learning faster and more efficient while addressing issues such as staff shortages and time constraints.

This new approach delivers bite-sized lessons (2-5 minutes) on key clinical skills, patient safety, and professional development, all accessible on mobile devices at the point of care.

In October 2024, our project titled Enhancing Education and Training for Healthcare Professionals: Implementing Microlearning was shortlisted for the finals under theEngaging a Digital Solution Category.

Although, our project on this occasion was not chosen as a winner, however, it was ‘Commended’ by the Selection Panel.

You can view our Microlearning Courses here

Microlearning – Dementia Services Information and Development Centre 

]]> New Information Booklets https://dementia.ie/2024/11/new-information-booklets/ Wed, 27 Nov 2024 12:00:45 +0000 https://faithful-skyline.flywheelsites.com/?p=8870 Read more]]>

We are delighted to announce that we have added a new information booklet called ‘Brain Health for Life’ to our existing list of information booklets. We have also recently updated several of our existing booklets. If you would like copies of these booklets you can download a copy here. Many of our booklets can be ordered from www.healthpromotion.ie. For more information on ordering information booklets email dementia.ie or call 01 4162035.

]]> DSiDC Annual Report 2023 https://dementia.ie/2024/11/dsidc-annual-report-2023/ Thu, 14 Nov 2024 15:33:21 +0000 https://faithful-skyline.flywheelsites.com/?p=10285

Our 2023 Annual Report is now available for download

Please click here to download a copy

]]> Addenbrookes (ACE III) as Gaeilge https://dementia.ie/2021/09/addenbrookesace/ Mon, 27 Sep 2021 00:56:00 +0000 https://faithful-skyline.flywheelsites.com/?p=5340 Read more]]>
Diagnostic dementia test now available as Gaeilge
 
The Addenbrokes Cognitive Examination-III (ACE-III) was developed to identify impairment in cognitive function. It is a fully validated cognitive assessment tool and is regularly used to help diagnose dementia. The ACE-III is available in over 20 languages with the latest addition being an Irish language version.
 
This work was completed by Dr Aoife O’Callaghan of St James’s Hospital, Dublin with the assistance of Professors Elaine Greene and James Bernard Walsh.
 
We hope that this version of the ACE-III will assist in the diagnosis and treatment of Irish speaking people both in Ireland and abroad.

If you would like to view this document please click here

 

]]> DSiDC 2020 Annual Report https://dementia.ie/2021/07/dsidc-2020-annual-report/ Thu, 01 Jul 2021 13:15:00 +0000 https://faithful-skyline.flywheelsites.com/?p=224 Our 2020 Annual Report is now available for download

Please click here to download a copy

]]> InspireD-Reminiscence app for people Living with Dementia https://dementia.ie/2021/05/inspired-reminiscence-app-for-people-living-with-dementia/ Tue, 04 May 2021 13:24:00 +0000 https://faithful-skyline.flywheelsites.com/?p=7898 Read more]]>

The InspireD app enables people living with dementia and their carers to create a digital memory book that stores personal photographs, sounds and videos.  Users can then peruse these and in doing so, share memories about past experiences and important life events. 

Users can also add typed or voice notes about photographs, sounds and film clips so that family, friends and carers understand why a particular memory is special. 

The InspireD app has been rigorously tested and is freely available on the HSC Apps4Dementia library (https://apps4dementia.orcha.co.uk).  The app is also free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play store and will work on Apple and Android devices.  

Although designed primarily for people living with dementia and their carers, the app can be used by other family members and health or social care staff across a range of care settings who are interested in reminiscence.   

The development of the InspireD app builds on previous research by Ulster University which showed that  reminiscence improved mood, wellbeing, quality of life and relationships for people living with dementia.   More information about the app is available at www.theinspiredapp.com     

Watch this video to find out how Dementia NI member Davie McElhinney has been using the app.

]]> Covid-19 Vaccine Visual Aid for People with Dementia https://dementia.ie/2021/03/covid-19-vaccine-visual-aid-for-people-with-dementia/ Mon, 01 Mar 2021 15:38:14 +0000 https://faithful-skyline.flywheelsites.com/?p=7506 Read more]]> The DSiDC have developed a visual aid to help explain the Covid-19 vaccination process to people with dementia.  If you would like to download a copy of the document please click here

Additional resources have been developed to support the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in conjunction with official HSE guidance on COVID-19 these can be viewed on the dementia pathways website https://dementiapathways.ie/

Information for health professionals on COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccination programme can be found on the HSE library webpage and on HSE.ie. Information for the general public is also available on HSE.ie

 

]]> Art & Ageing Spring Programme at IMMA https://dementia.ie/2021/02/art-ageing-spring-programme-at-imma/ Mon, 01 Feb 2021 09:04:01 +0000 https://faithful-skyline.flywheelsites.com/?p=3534 Read more]]>

In partnership with Creative Ireland, IMMA is pleased to announce their new arts programme for older people.  The programme offers a variety of engaging creative events, workshops and resources and delivers a range of free inclusive arts based activities as part of an effort to counteract the social side effects of the pandemic. The programme encourages active engagement and conversation, prompting participants to share their thoughts and opinions on IMMA artworks along with a printable ‘Talking Art with IMMA’ resource pack. These printed resource packs highlight a selected work from the IMMA Collection accompanied with a range of  conversational prompts that form a guided way of exploring artworks. These conversational prompts can be followed alone, with family and friends, or used by Activity Coordinators within nursing homes or other residential settings.

For further details please visit the IMMA website at https://imma.ie/learn-engage/art-and-ageing/where you can download the resources or alternatively you can request hard copies by emailing  Catherine.Abbott@imma.ie.

 

]]> Helpful resources that may help with social isolation during COVID-19 https://dementia.ie/2020/11/helpful-resources-that-may-help-with-social-isolation-during-covid-19/ Fri, 20 Nov 2020 17:52:56 +0000 https://faithful-skyline.flywheelsites.com/?p=928 Read more]]> If you are at home caring for a person living with dementia and are experiencing less social contact we have prepared a collection of resources which we hope you will find helpful during these times of uncertainty

Weekly Activity Planner for people with dementia and their carers

Updated Weekly Activity Planner please download here

 

 

 

Weekly activity planner template:  You can make your own schedule of activities for a person with dementia and yourself. Once you download the template you call fill it out on the computer or print it and write on it by hand.

Find activities to fill it with in the documents on this website.

My own weekly schedule please download here

 

A Selection of online resources for people with dementia, families and carers

Updated Resources Covid please download here

 

 

At Home Activities: A Selection of meaningful activities for people with dementia, families and carers

At Home Activities please download here

 

 

 

Video calls can be especially useful in these times of social distancing.  

The use of devices such as smartphones and computers can help to ease feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Video calls please download here

 

 

 

Gardens provide opportunities for exercise and relaxation please download our collection of ideas and suggestions  NEW

Gardening please download here

 

 

Helpful resources to keep you and the person you are caring for both physically and mentally active as you possibly can while at home  

Exercise please download here

 

 

Everyone reacts to music here are some ideas to help you to include music in your everyday life   

Music please download here

 

 

 

Researchers have found that visiting art museums can offer significant relief for people living with dementia. Here are some alternative ways that you can pay a visit to a museum.  

Arts and Museums please download here

 

 

While we are all maintaining safe social distance and spending more time at home, it could be a great time to start writing or putting together a life story which might become an invaluable resource in the future.  A life story is a record of the information of the life and events of a person.

Lifestory please download here

 

We all possess memories, we all have our own unique life history. Recalling the past is a means of owning it and hence preserving ourselves. It is a here and now process which holds the teller and the told in relationship with each other.     

Reminiscence please download here

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