Tipperary Understand Together

Description

In Shaping a culture, we have undertaken walkability audits in Roscrea and Clonmel with a specific dementia centred lens and we worked with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) in training. In 2024 we hosted a virtual dementia tour in Nenagh, Clonmel and the Garda College in Templemore and we repeat in September 2025 for Brain Health Month targeting Age Friendly Alliance, LCDC, OPC Executive and staff within Tipperary County Council.
In creating awareness and understanding we promote our Dementia Cafe network through our website https://www.dementiatipperary.ie/, through the Tipperary Together Newsletter and through public events including our annual EXPO, and the PPN network.
We partnered with the Memory Technology Rooms (MTR) and our libraries where we have equipment available through the library network recommended by the staff in the MTR. We have as provided a contacts card for distribution detailing all cafe and contacts, for both Community Health Networks in the County.
We work with An Garda Síochána in promoting a Vulnerable Risk Register with a photo of the person living with Dementia, initially piloted in the Roscrea now rolled out across the County Garda divisions.
In furthering Community Engagement, we are working in 2025 in particular with Tipperary Tidy Towns groups. There are 81 Tidy Towns Groups in Tipperary. We asked each group to consider the Understand Together Planting Guide, to participate in training and to undertake a local reminiscing project looking at photos of the past, showcasing at a local level and then collectively Tipperary Age Friendly will showcase the collections during Positive Ageing Week.

Aim of Initiative

Promoting Dementia Awareness so that we can make our communities dementia inclusive, where people with dementia and their families are respected, supported and connected.

Who is it aimed at

those living with dementia in County Tipperary and the wider community and business network in the County

3 Steps critical to success

1. Partnership of all of our existing and new cafe in the county in joining the network and offering support and guidance to new groups
2. the awareness that small actions in our community can support the person and family living with dementia in their quality of life and remaining within their own community
3. the mix of staff and volunteers in our network, everyone having an equal voice, and provision of support

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. working across the 2 Community Health Networks can be both a challenge and an opportunity ensuring services and supports are replicated across the county
2. Provision of supports for those with young onset dementia, we will be supporting a programme with MTR Clonmel but this will not be replicated at the moment in North Tipperary
3. getting local business and community to engage is very resource intensive and you really need a local community champion to support you to gain traction in a community

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Greater Awareness in County Tipperary of supports available when you are on the journey with dementia
2. strong partnership within our network from across the county, replicating topics of interest, sharing resources and promotion of dementia in the county
3. Provision of ongoing training within the county and increasing awareness within our community