IRENE DUNNE, DUBLIN
“The first thing we were told when my mam got her diagnosis of dementia, was that she should be in a nursing home. To be quite honest if I put my mam in a nursing home she would not be here today. Without a doubt I know for a fact she would have been long gone. Now she’s continuing to enjoy her life and enjoy her grandchildren. And she turned 70 in October and the outlook is good.” - Orla, Irene’s daughter
Irene is warm and welcoming and always has time for a cup of tea and a chat. Irene was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2012. She was referred to a hospital consultant who ran a basic cognitive test. Irene’s daughter Orla describes how, “He sat me down and he said, ‘right I think your mam may have dementia’. That basically she shouldn’t be living at home, she should be in a nursing home. This was all based on this one test. He’d never met my mam before. I mean she was still driving her car, living on her own and had her independence. I just felt it was a bit harsh because I knew she wasn’t that bad. I felt quite hurt and alone at that moment because I didn’t know where to go from there.” Eventually Irene was referred to the Holly Day ward in Connolly Hospital, which had developed supports for people with dementia as part of the HSE & Genio Dementia Programme. Orla describes how “seeing the doctor and then seeing the nurse, Susan, they both showed an awful lot of care and attention towards my mam. Towards me as a person being a family member. There was no mention of a nursing home.” Irene continues to live independently, with support, and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.