We wanted to share recent Dementia: Understand Together updates as well as local and national activities and events.
Communities:
The local dementia alliances are continuing their work across the country to make towns and villages dementia inclusive. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your local networks, such as the Age Friendly Alliances, Local County Councils, Tidy Towns to hear about their inclusive community activities.
- Cork ( Bantry): The Memory Café in Bantry held it’s Christmas Café on the 3rd of December with a music facilitator as the guest on the day.
- North Cork Dementia Alliance continue to run a series of activity groups. The social club outing involved a trip of 25 participants to Copstown Driving range, with the novices being guided by the more experienced golfers.
- Memory Group: Is a 6 week group for people in the early stages of dementia, focusing on brain health, memory strategies and cognitive challenges.
- A six week block of information sessions for relatives of people with dementia has just been completed. The feedback was very positive.
- A support group for relatives continues to run in Fermoy, with the launch of a new support group in Mallow.
- Brain Gym: This is currently ongoing and focuses on cognitive challenges and social interaction.
- Memory Resource Room appointments, exercise groups, counselling service, dementia cafés and singing groups continue to be delivered.
To find out more you can E-mail: or go to www.ncdementiaalliance.ie
- Leitrim: Carrick-on-Shannon Dementia Alliance: Business awareness training will take place in late January to support the local businesses within the community to help create safer, more inclusive, and supportive environments for both customers and employees.
- Living Well with Dementia (LWwD) is a community-based project that supports people with dementia through arts based activities, to help them continue to live at home and participate in their own community. They are recent winners in the all-Ireland IPB Pride of Place Awards 2025 in the Community Well-Being Focused category. (LWwD) in partnership with the HSE and Dance Theatre of Ireland deliver a Movement to Music class that is inclusive of people living with dementia, their families, and carers. Focusing on musicality, rhythm, expression, connection, and joy, this one hour “do as you are able” activity promotes joyful wellbeing for everyone. These classes take place each Wednesday afternoon from 1.45-3.15pm in Dun Laoghaire, A96 RK63. For further information contact Mary Spain, Programme Coordinator or 086 041 8450
National Partners:
- Sky Ireland developed Sky Accessibility: The attached guide has been created to give you an overview of the features, services and support Sky offers to meet the varying needs and preferences of customers.
- Engaging Dementia: Online event – Green Christmas Craft Session is being held on December 9th from 10am to 11am – this event is designed especially for staff and carers who support people living with dementia. This workshop focuses on simple, meaningful activities that use only recycled or already available materials – helping create decorations without the need to purchase. To register for this free event: https://tinyurl.com/mv5wcztx
- The Dementia Café Network: A Dementia Café is a welcoming, volunteer-run space where people living with dementia, their families, and carers can come together to share experiences, find support, and enjoy a chat in a relaxed, social setting. These cafés take place in towns and villages across Ireland, helping to build understanding and community connection. The Dementia Café Network supports local volunteers with guidance, resources, and training to help them set up and run their own cafés. If you’d like to get involved or find out more, visit www.dementiacafe.ie. Your local Dementia Cafe may be taking a break across December and January so make sure to check with your local café before attending. You can find a full list of Dementia Cafes with contact details here: Cafe Finder – Dementia Cafe
- Caring at Christmas: Getting ready for Christmas? Take a moment to watch this helpful video from Maeve Montgomery, Dementia Adviser with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, as she talks about caring at Christmas. It’s available to view here: Caring at Christmas
Upcoming events & activities:
- IMMA Azure Dementia-Inclusive Tours: Azure in-person tours are a free gallery led experience designed for people living with dementia and their families and friends, held at 11am on the first Friday of the month. During Azure, you will explore a selection of artworks with a facilitator who has received special training in dementia-inclusive arts programming. These tours are followed by complimentary tea/coffee in the IMMA Cafe. Next date is 5th of December. You can book your place here https://imma.ie/learn-engage/imma-horizons/whats-on/armchair-azure/ or email
- Navan, Azure: Dementia-Inclusive Gallery Tours at Solstice Arts Centre: The next tour takes place on December 19th from 11am (90mins). This is free, booking is required. Contact or call 046 9092300
- Family Carer’s Ireland continues to host a range of online support groups and information sessions along with many other topics. To find out more go to : https://www.familycarers.ie/carer-supports/family-carer-events-calendar/
- The Memory Harbour is delighted to launch “Fondest Regards”, a series of short plays, written and performed by the Harbour Playwrights. An Cathaoirleach Jim Gildea and Aisling Heffernan, IHA Manager, Dublin South and Wicklow, will launch the collection on Wednesday 10th December at 7pm, in DLR Lexicon. This is the second year of the ongoing collaboration between the HSE’s Memory Harbour service and DLR arts office, where clients with memory impairment and dementia are supported to maintain and promote their brain health by engaging in creative writing. Places are limited and booking is required. Please email or phone: (01) 236 2759 to book your place.
- World Lewy Body Day: A open day is being held in Trinity College Dublin on January 28th 2026. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness and understanding of Lewy Body Dementia through a series of interactive and informative activities. Further information is included in the attached flyer.
Publications:
- A national report aimed at enhancing cultural inclusivity for people living with dementia has been published. It is evident that participation in arts and cultural activities has been linked to improved mood, reduced anxiety and enhanced social engagement for people with dementia. The arts allow creative encounters, with meaningful connections, freedom to express and maintain identify. The report can be read here: https://memorable-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Memorable-National-Report-Ireland-vf.pdf
Call for participation in PhD research project by 3rd Year PhD student:
- Title: Investigating the Supportive Care Needs of People with Dementia Living with a Cancer Diagnosis and Their Caregivers: Project Synopsis: This project addresses a major gap in existing research and represents the first Irish study to explore the experiences and supportive care needs of people living with both dementia and cancer. The study involves qualitative interviews with people with dementia who have a cancer diagnosis, their informal caregivers, and relevant healthcare professionals, with the goal of gaining deeper insight into their experiences, unmet needs, and the complexities of navigating care across services. To get involved please contact Jane Gaffey phone: 089 216 3991
