#28 Dementia: Understand Together

In this podcast, we hear about the HSE Dementia: Understand Together campaign which aims to raise awareness and understanding of dementia and inspire communities to become inclusive.   Host Noreen Turley speaks to guests Fiona Foley, Senior Project Manager HSE National Dementia Office, and Kathleen Farrell, who is living with Lewy body dementia and is a member of the Irish Dementia Working Group.    In the podcast we hear about the various types of dementia, early signs and symptoms and where to go for help if you have dementia or are a family member supporting a person with the condition. Kathleen is very open about living with dementia and shares her personal experiences and she goes on to outline some of the supports available to her. Kathleen also highlights the importance of education among all community groups and organisations to create inclusive communities all over Ireland.   The "Understand Together" campaign recently launched a new dementia inclusive community symbol which organisations and groups can display to show their solidarity with people living with dementia. Kathleen wears her badge proudly and tells us how the campaign and new symbol is changing the dementia culture in Ireland, increasing visibility and awareness of dementia.     For more information you can contact [email protected], visit www.understandtogether.ie or call the national helpline facilitated by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland on 1800 341 341.   Dementia: Understand Together is led by the HSE, in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI), Age Friendly Ireland, the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre, Age & Opportunity and Healthy Ireland.   Produced by GKMedia.ie