Roscommon ‘has highest share of people with dementia’
Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy said that his party’s recent special Dáil debate on Dementia and Alzheimer’s puts the spotlight on the necessary supports and services to ensure that every person living with dementia has the best possible quality of care, and above all, quality of life.
Deputy Murphy said that this is an issue that impacts on so many lives, not just the lives of people living with dementia or Alzheimer’s, but also on the lives of their loved ones who care for them on a daily basis.
“A 2012 survey showed that Local Health Office areas in the HSE West have the highest prevalence rates with each of the nine areas estimated to have at least 1% of the population living with dementia.
“County Roscommon has the highest share of people with dementia at 1.40%. There are currently 55,000 people in Ireland living with dementia with a further 165,000 people directly affected by it.
“It is expected that one in three people aged over 65 will develop dementia, and that the number of people living with dementia will double in the next 20 years, and treble in the next 35 years.
“Fianna Fáil wants to see progressive increases in investment towards home care supports for people with dementia over the years ahead, so as to meet the needs of people currently living with dementia in the community.”
