Tea morning to support the Alzheimer’s Society
The Kilnamanagh Alzheimer’s Society held a very successful tea morning in the local Family Recreation Centre on Friday morning, May 3.
“Between 70 and 100 people attended,” said John Duff, manager of the centre.
The event was held from 10am to 1pm and Aaron Greene, who plays for Shamrock Rovers and who is from Kilnamanagh, was also there.
A raffle was also held for prizes which were donated by volunteers.
The Kilnamanagh Alzheimer’s Society was founded by Raymond Smith, Kilnamanagh.
“They were in Bloomfield, but during Covid Bloomfield closed down so Raymond asked me for a room in Kilnamanagh, they have a room every Friday morning,” said John.
The society organise various activities for their Friday gatherings.
Shamrock Rovers player Aaron Greene meeting Ray, Stephanie, Dermot, Deirdre and Rob in Kilnamanagh Community Centre
“They come in and have a sing song, a ukulele group come in once a month, some weeks they have bingo and quiz games. Quiz games are good for people with Alzheimer’s. They have tea and coffee every Friday morning and a few games too,” said John.
He feels that the Alzheimer’s disease has become more common.
“You wouldn’t believe the number of people with Alzheimer’s, it’s not just old people, there are young people in their fifties too,” said John.
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.
“Alzheimer’s is all to do with the mind, it’s frightening the number of people affected by it,” said John.
Pat, Liz, Una, Gaye and Ann supporting the Tea Morning
One of the aims of the Friday gatherings of the Alzheimer’s society is to give carers a social outlet.
“People with Alzheimer’s have to come in with a carer. It gives the carer a couple of hours off, it’s a social interaction for the carers. There is a singsong, they may not know what happened yesterday, but they know all the songs. It’s all the old music,” said John.
Most carers that attend these gatherings have a family connection with the person they are caring for.
“Nine out of ten carers are family members, a husband or a wife or a daughter or a son,” added John.
