John Grant
Western Alzheimers
The year 1992 for me was the start of a journey; Initially, I had no idea where it would lead or what would be accomplished.
Today looking back I Thank God that I got the strength to achieve what was achieved and for all the good people I met along the way who helped.
This impressive list of services are today being offered by Western Alzheimers in counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon.
In-Home Support Services, giving regular weekly breaks to families in their own homes.
Residential Respite Care & Day Care in Marian house Respite Home in Ballindine, Co. Mayo.
Long Term Care and Respite Care & Day Care in Maryfield Nursing Home, Athenry, Co. Galway.
Grants to families to enable them access local help.
Information and Counselling.
Carer Support Group Meetings.
How Did They Ever Manage?
Back in 1986 I watched a family struggle to make sense out of what was happening their father. I watched this man I admired become a mere shadow of himself. His wife and children were in shock; ready to pay anything to get help but there was no help; no facility for an Alzheimer Patient except the mental homes as they were then called; and nobody to tell them what happens next? or does it get worse?. What could they expect? What is Alzheimer disease?
My God it must have been so hard for them and for all the families who carried the same burden. How did they ever manage?
“There must be something someone can do”, I thought, “there has to be a way”.
I owned a draper shop in Claremorris, a family business and in my spare time I was involved with the Vincent de Paul and the building of the local Community Social Service Centre.
The plight of carers of people suffering from Alzheimer Disease never left my mind and in 1992 I put a notice in the local papers asking carers to come together for a meeting. I thought if I got interested people together maybe they could help each other just by sharing experiences.
Getting People Together
It was a packed house. Carers came from all over the County. Listening to their stories I realised how hard it was for them to come to that meeting – not just because of the emotional side but the very practicalities. Who looks after their loved one when the carer wants to got out?
But they came that night. This was the first time they had a platform to speak from and they used it well.
Forming Western Alzheimers
The next problem was where to go from here. We formed a committee and, named the group Western Alzheimers. We fundraised knowing that whatever we were going to do we needed money.
The one thing I was certain of was that the money we raised in the West was going to be spent in the West.
In Home Support Services Started in 1994
Through negotiations with Eddie Hoban FAS Castlebar we were granted a Community Employment Scheme of 16 participants in 1994. This gave us the personnel. We rented a small office and we were in business. At last we could give practical help to carers and not just talk about it.
It was a wonderful feeling knowing that at last we were now able to give help to carers in their own homes. Our personnel, which we trained, were located in various communities throughout Co. Mayo. This was the first In-Home-Support Service specifically for carers of Alzheimer sufferers. This service was expanded to counties Galway and Roscommon in 1995.
Marian House Respite Home, Ballindine
With this initial service established, we built and commissioned Ireland’s first purpose built Respite Home, Marian House in Ballindine, Co. Mayo, in 1999, a 12 bed unit which has been filled to capacity since the doors opened.
Maryfield, Athenry Purchased.
In 2001 we purchased Maryfield Nursing Home in Athenry, a 22 bed unit. Maryfield provides Long Stay Care and Respite Care.
We opened Marian House having first researched the idea of Respite Care by renting a 6 bed home in Claremorris in 1996. The medical thinking at this time maintained that if you brought an Alzheimer Patient out of their own environment that they would not fit in and it would upset them. It was a giant step to take but we proved the establishment wrong. Now our thinking and forward looking ideas are being copied throughout Ireland.
In 1999 the then Minister for Health said that the government recognised that action to provide services for people with dementia was fragmented, falling into cracks between medicine and psychiatry. He also said that the need had now been “clearly flagged” and that he was confident significant progress could be made. At that time also the National Council for Ageing and Older People had drawn up “An Action Plan for Dementia”. Other specialists in the field of dementia care were quoting research from other countries.
In Co. Mayo by 1999 Western Alzheimers had a vibrant, coordinated, integrated, community based, person centre service established for carers and people suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. In Mayo the Foundation is very proud of the fact that while other countries and the Government were talking and thinking about what to do, we here in Co. Mayo have achieved it, and still continue to add new initiatives. Our services also extended to counties Galway and Roscommon.
In 2005 the Foundation Provided:
12,500 Bed Days
7,100 Day Care Hours
52,000 Hours of In-Home Care in Peoples Own Homes
I believe that Respite Care plays a vital part in the care of a person suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. It gives the carer a badly needed rest, a whole week or two without worrying about keeping the doors locked, - getting up at all hours of the night, incontinence, - wandering, - constantly answering questions. Carers of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’sDdisease face so many demands, the physical and financial grind of caring and the horror of watching the essence of a loved one drain away. There is also the burden of guilt carers take on themselves feeling that whatever they do is not enough, or that they haven’t enough patience, never acknowledging the devastating situation they find themselves in. I don’t think carers give themselves enough credit for the wonderful work they do.
The situation very often becomes desperate before carers look for help. All too often the caregiver has to hit a crisis point before they look for or accept help.
Carers are also influenced by family members living far away from home and who don’t understand their needs as carers. Mam or dad is great when they are home for the weekend so what’s the problem. Tremendous pressure also can be put on the carer to delay looking for help.
Western Alzheimers has been at the forefront of care for Alzheimer Patient’s for the past 11 years. The services provided is what carers request as best suited to their needs.
This year will see a strain on the Foundation’s resources to provide for the increasing number of people requesting our services.
Need For More Government Funding
The amount of money received through Government Grants is not sufficient to meet the present need. The Foundation rely heavily on their own fundraising and donations to meet the growing need.
I feel that the Government and Statutory bodies could do an awful lot more. I also feel that enough surveys and reports have been done. The evidence is there. Now it is time to put more resources in place.
Mayo Person of the Year
I was delighted to be honoured with the Mayo Person of The Year Award in 2001 for my work in providing services for carers of Alzheimer Patients. We were also delighted to win the National FAS Initiatives Award in 2002 for the excellence of our services. The Foundation also got the Finals of the AIB Awards for our work.
It was great to be the Mayo Person of The Year because it gave recognition to our organisation and opened many doors. The publicity generated by the awards helped our fundraising efforts.
Looking back over the last number of years and thinking of how it all started with just a handful of people and now to be the Chief Executive Officer of a vibrant, growing organisation I am very proud. Little did I think that I would sell my family business started in Claremorris in 1911 and move into the caring sector. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction.
It is nice to think that the idea I had to help one of the most vulnerable sectors of our community has blossomed and brings such joy to carers who otherwise would be left to care alone.
Thinking about people who suffer from Alzheimer Disease this saying always comes to mind “Love leaves a memory no one can steal”. So true for you and me but sadly Alzheimers Disease can steal that memory of love.
