Carers are "the new poor" and are largely ignored by Irish society, according to Mr John Grant, the new Mayo Man of the Year.
Carers of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease face a particularly heavy burden, he says. As chief executive of the West of Ireland Alzheimer Foundation, he is constantly shocked by the levels of stress he encounters among those involved in coping with a progressive condition that affects at least 4,000 people in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.
That figure may be an underestimate, as it relates only to people over 65 years of age in the three western counties. It is estimated that there may be another 7,000 people afflicted with Alzheimer's or premature senility in Ireland in 10 years. Mr Grant has direct experience of many families in the west who have to face it, and the response to a respite centre opened by his foundation in Mayo has been such that a new one is planned for Galway, if a location can be found.
The Marian House Respite Home in Ballindine was purpose-built, having been given an initial grant through the Minister of State for Health, Dr Tom Moffatt. "We started off renting a house in Claremorris, and then Mayo County Council gave us a site." One qualified nurse and four staff are on duty daily, with one nurse and two staff at night. "The focus is on the individual, and to do that you need to have good staffing levels," Mr Grant says.
The foundation has also been active in providing support in patients' homes and has 20 nurses altogether in its employ. It was responsible for initiating a FAS scheme to provide back-up through a system of part-time care, involving 25 assistants each in Galway and Mayo and 10 in Roscommon. "I have never refused a plea for help, and would dread having to do so, but we are certainly reaching our limit," he says. He believes he would have no problem finding more recruits if there was sufficient funding.
Finding money is a large part of his work, and Mr Grant's experience with St Vincent de Paul and Claremorris Social Services has stood him in good stead. The foundation runs a weekly lotto draw and organisations run functions, while the Western Health Board also gives a grant.
"My view is that there has to be a certain amount of voluntary effort. The Government can't be expected to fund everything, but if it sees that people have put in a commitment in terms of time, then it should, and often does, help out."
Medication can arrest the progress of Alzheimer's, but as yet there is no cure. "It used to have a stigma attached to it, but thankfully that has gone," he says. "There is so much more information now. When the former US president, Ronald Reagan, admitted publicly to having it, it was probably one of the best things he ever did."
The West of Ireland Alzheimer Foundation can be contacted at Lower James Street, Claremorris, Co Mayo, Tel (094) 62480 or e-mail:westal@gofree.indigo.ie
