A model of care for Alzheimer’s sufferers championed by a Mayo man has been commended as a progressive approach to positive ageing. John Grant of Western Alzheimer’s was singled out for mention at a health conference in Galway this month for promoting a ‘household’ system of care through residential homes catering to small numbers of patients at a time.
Western Alzheimer’s also provides in-home care to Alzheimer sufferers, relieving carers who often have nowhere else to turn. The organisation is currently helping 238 families in their own homes every week while providing residential and respite care at its 12-bed and 22-bed homes in Ballindine and Athenry respectively. An additional third residential home in Galway is currently being negotiated as part of a lease arrangement on the grounds of Merlin Park Hospital, while planning permission is also in place for another unit at Tulsk in Co Roscommon.
At the Pfizer health forum in association with The Irish Times held in Galway last week, entitled ‘The ignored demographic - older people in Ireland’, Mr Grant was praised for his ‘vision’ in the running of Western Alzheimer’s.
“The John Grant and Western Alzheimer’s approach ensures patients aren’t hidden away in 150-bed hospitals. It is a non-profit, charitable status organisation with low capital spend and running costs due to its self-sufficient operations. I think it should go out across Ireland as the model of care of Alzheimer’s sufferers,” stated one audience member at the event.
Last year Western Alzheimer’s provided 434,000 hours of care, an increase of 54,000 from the previous year, reflecting the growing incidence of the disease. “There’s really nothing else out there for carers and of all the people we look after, at least 75 per cent are referred by the HSE,” said Mr Grant.
Western Alzheimer’s received over €1 million in grant aid from the Government last year which equated to 30 per cent of overall costs, with the balance having to be raised through fundraising. Asked what motivates him to continue fighting such an uphill battle, John Grant told the Mayo Advertiser, “I started this because of my father-in-law and it is great to see how it has mushroomed. There are 160 people working in Western Alzheimer’s now and to hear the hard luck stories from all those people caring — similar to those highlighted on the recent Prime Time focus on the issue — and to know you can give them some help to alleviate their desperate situation — that is the reward. Otherwise, they are just prisoners in their own home.”
The panel of medical experts at the forum who included Minister for Older People, Aine Brady; chief executive of Age Action, Robin Webster; consultant in geriatric medicine at Merlin Park Hospital, Dr Shaun O’Keeffe; Maureen Kavanagh, CEO Active Retirement Ireland; and chairman Fintan O’Toole, all agreed that Mr Grant should be recognised and supported for the wonderful work Western Alzheimer’s continues to do.
Further information contact 094 93 64900 or visit www.westernalzheimers.ie
