ARRANMORE has become the first off-shore island in Europe to complete an innovative dementia awareness programme.
‘Creating a Dementia Inclusive Generation’ is a post-primary school project aimed at educating young people about the condition and the impact a diagnosis has on the person, their extended family and carers.
Letterkenny man CJ McGinley is Community Engagement Officer with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
Along with National Community Engagement Manager Cathryn O’Leary, he recently visited Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada on Arranmore to roll out the programme to transition year students there.
In embracing the learning Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada joined over 55 schools across 17 counties in learning more about dementia.
CJ McGinley said the Alzheimer Society was “absolutely thrilled” with the response to Creating a Dementia Inclusive Generation.
And taking it to Arranmore was another first for everyone involved.
“It was an historic day because Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada was the first off-shore island school in Europe to complete the programme.
“Arranmore was important to us for a couple of reasons, the first being that there is a very pro-active development association there and they were so keen to get involved.
“Secondly you have an ageing population on the island and now, having completed our programme, the students can impart the knowledge they have to others. They were delighted with the project and they really engaged which made our job much easier.”
CJ McGinley added that a big thank you had to go to Principal of Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada Mary Doherty, Transition Year Coordinator Caroline McCauley and all the staff and students on Arranmore for the warm welcome.
So successful has the programme been that it has been granted the go ahead for a second year. In the past week alone two more Donegal schools have signed up to it.
The Alzheimer Society’s National Community Engagement Manager Cathryn O’Leary added, “We are very excited to launch the programme for the second year in a row.
“With a growing number of people being diagnosed with dementia each year, it is more important than ever that we teach today’s youth how to cope when someone they know and love receives a diagnosis.
“The programme aims to remove the fear, empower young people to cope with the situation and reduce the stigma associated with dementia. A rising dementia diagnosis rate has inspired the development of our transition year programme to educate the younger generation on the effects of dementia and make our communities a safer, more inclusive environment.”
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