Carers Week

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland

Web: www.alzheimer.ie
Tel: 01 207 3800
N ational Helpline: 1 800 341 341

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is the leading charity in Alzheimer's / dementia care in Ireland. The Society provides people with Alzheimer's, their families and carers with information and support to help them live as normally as possible in their own homes for as long as possible. Voicing the individual and cumulative needs of individuals and families affected by this devastation condition is at the core of everything we do.

The Society's national network of services includes: 22 branches, 6 regional offices, 33 Day Care Centres, 28 Home Care Programmes, 28 Carer Support Groups, Social Clubs, an Advocacy Service and one overnight Respite Centre. The Society also operates the Alzheimer National Helpline Service 1 800 341 341 offering information and support to anyone affected by Alzheimer's disease / dementia.

44,000 people in Ireland have Alzheimer's disease  / dementia some as young as 30's or 40's. The disease has a ripple effect on the person, their loved one's and even on their neighbours. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland can offer hope, help and understanding to all affected but only with the support of individual and corporate donors.

Our mission is to work with those affected by Alzheimer's disease / dementia to maximise quality of life.

Brí, The Acquired Brain Injury Advocacy Association

Web: www.briireland.ie
Email: info@briireland.ie
Tel: 01 235 5501

BRÍ, The Acquired Brain Injury Advocacy Association, provides Advocacy and Support for people with Acquired Brain Injury, their families and Carers. We strive to ensure that those affected by Acquired Brain Injury have the best quality of life. We work to achieve change in terms of service provision, public awareness and prevention.

Attending one of our 14 support groups dotted around the country brings those affected by ABI together to exchange insight, experiences and offer practical help to each other. A variety of topics are discussed in a fully confidential setting. To find out more, please visit our website on www.briireland.ie or call our main office on 01 235 5501 or 01 2355127. Email, info@briireland.ie

Care Alliance Ireland

Web: www.carealliance.ie
Tel: 01 874 7776

Care Alliance Ireland is the National Network of Voluntary Organisations supporting Family Carers. We currently have over 70 member organisations and a representative board of directors. We currently have a staff of three.

The specific aims and objectives of the organisation are as follows:

• To enhance the status and wellbeing of Family Carers, through supporting the work and activities of Family Carers organisations
• To promote collaborative and interagency working amongst organisations working with Family Carers
• To promote research into Family Carers lives, and to promote the sharing of information and ideas between Family Carer organisations

Activities  We currently lead in the co-ordination of National Carers Week which takes place in June each year.  We are undertaking a qualitative piece of research in collaboration with the Parkinsons Association of Ireland entitled 'The Caring reality of Family Carers: An Exploration of the health status of a specific group of Family Carers.'

We resource the Family Carer Research Group and are actively involved in making submissions to the government and other national/regulatory bodies on various matters. We produce a quarterly Newsletter, Care Alliance Exchange and are active members of The Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI), The Carmichael Centre, The Wheel and sit on the executive of Eurocarers.

The Carers Association

Web: www.carersireland.com
Tel: 057 932 2920
Freephone: 1800 24 07 24

The Carers Association is Ireland's national voluntary organisation for and of family carers in the home. Family carers provide high levels of care to a range of people including frail older people, people with severe disabilities, the terminally ill and children with special needs. The Carers Association

• provide family carers with emotional and practical supports including
  • In Home Respite Service o Training in Practical Care Skills
  • Information on Entitlements
• promote the interests of family carers and those receiving care in the home
• lobby and advocate in an effort to gain recognition and social justice for carers' invaluable contribution to Irish society
• work in partnership with other organisations to further the interests and welfare of family carers

The Carers Association's national office is based in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. The Association also has a Regional Office based in the Kilkenny Resource Centre. All of the Association's 16 Resource Centres and 2 Service Projects provide a range of information and support for family carers.

Contact: The Carers Association, National Office, Market Square, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Disability Federation of Ireland

Web: www.disability-federation.ie
Tel: 01 454 7978

The Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) works to ensure that Irish society is fully inclusive of people with disabilities and disabling conditions so that they can exercise fully their civil, social and human rights. In pursuit of this vision, DFI acts as an advocate for the voluntary disability sector, and supports organisations to further enable people with disabilities.

DFI is the national support mechanism for voluntary organisations in Ireland, covering all areas of disability and disabling conditions (hidden, intellectual, mental health, physical, sensory and emotional disability). DFI represented and supported over one hundred and fifty voluntary disability organisations and groups of which seventy-two comprise the National Council, and thirty-one of which are Associate Members.

Extra Care

Web: www.extra-care.ie
Tel: 041 9810 447

Extra Care is a leading provider of and champion for innovative high quality and flexible home care services for older people and dependent adults in supporting their choice to remain living at home with dignity.

We are a voluntary not for profit organisation recognized as a charity by the Revenue Commission.

Extra Care is a home care provider working in partnership with the Health Service Executive.

Our services are provided 24 hours a day, every day of the year and are designed either to assist those who live alone, or to give time off or practical assistance with personal care tasks to the family carer.

All of our services are tailored to meet individual need or those of family members and include the following and more; Practical Support Services, Personal Care Services, Sitting Services, Dementia Services, Family Carer Training Programme and Children’s Services.

Headway- Brain Injury Services and Support

Web: www.headway.ie
Tel: 1890 200 278

Founded in 1985, Headway’s mission is to bring about positive change in the lives of those affected by an acquired brain injury. This type of injury can be caused by a stroke, brain haemorrhage, a road traffic accident, an assault, surgery, viral infection, or a lack of oxygen, amongst others.

The effects of a brain injury are disabling and long lasting and often change the lives of the person affected and their families, long term. Headway offers specialist services and support through rehabilitative day and training services, psychology services and counselling, return-to-work and community support, as well as a National Information & Support Service on 1890 200 278.

We have services in Dublin, Cork, the South-East, Kerry and Limerick.

The Irish Hospice Foundation

Web : www.hospice-foundation.ie
Tel: 01 679 3188

The Irish Hospice Foundation is dedicated to building support for the hospice philosophy in all care settings, improving access to hospice services and working for the continuous development of high-quality care, including bereavement support. The philosophy of palliative care includes the provision of support systems to help the family and carers cope during the patient’s illness and in their own bereavement.

Carers of people with a life limiting illness have specific needs that should be recognized and supported to enable them to fulfil their caring responsibilities. Studies have shown that carers delivering care to family members who are facing death have extremely high levels of anxiety - sometimes higher than that of the patient they are caring for.

The IHF, as part of an ongoing strategy to support carers of people with life limiting disease, are launching a website, during Carers Week in 2009, dedicated to the information needs of family carers, to provide them with relevant information, advice and resources and as they support their loved one in their often difficult and emotional journey

National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH)

Web: www.nrh.ie
Tel: 01 235 5133

The National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services to patients from throughout the country, who have acquired a physical or cognitive disability as a result of an accident, illness or Injury and who require specialist medical rehabilitation. Consultant led Rehabilitation Programmes at NRH are tailored to meet the individual needs of adult and paediatric patients in the following areas of specialty:

• Brain Injury (including traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury, Stroke, and other neurological conditions)
• Spinal Cord System of Care (including traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury)
• Prosthetic, Orthotic and Limb Absence Rehabilitation (POLAR)
• Paediatric -Family Centred Rehabilitation

Backed by experience, clinical expertise and a solid reputation for excellence, patients are given every opportunity to meet their rehabilitation goals through personalised treatment plans delivered by the Interdisciplinary Teams at NRH. Interdisciplinary Teams include rehabilitation specialists including medical, nursing and a range of therapies. Many of our patients will have a life-long relationship with the hospital following completion of their in-patient rehabilitation programme.