Your Identity as a Carer
Manage episode 366032790 series 3484201
DemTalks, Our Stories, Our Voices, Series One. Created by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and proudly sponsored by Hidden Hearing
Participants in this episode:
Danielle Lennon – member of the Dementia Carers Campaign Network
Danielle lives in Dublin and cared for her Mam, Caroline, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2021 and later with dementia in 2022. Sadly, Caroline passed away in May 2022.
Danielle joined the Dementia Carers Campaign Network (DCCN) in July 2022 in the hope of using her own experience caring for her Mam to help improve supports and services for those affected by dementia and their families in the future.
Pamela Laird – Entrepreneur and beauty expert
Pamela is a beauty expert and entrepreneur and an Alzheimer Society of Ireland ambassador. She is the creator of beauty brand Moxi Loves. Pamela pitched her business on Dragons Den Ireland where she received an offer of investment from three Dragons, and she took part in the Apprentice UK, where she came third.
Pamela’s father, Sylvester, was diagnosed with dementia in 2016 and Pamela and her mother looked after her father at home. In 2019 they received carer services to help with her dad’s care. However, when Covid-19 hit in 2020, Pamela’s mother cocooned with Sylvester and became his sole carer. Sylvester was in the motor trade and he was also a talented cook, gardener, and builder, so Pamela says it has been very difficult to see her dad change since his dementia diagnosis.
Dr Michelle Kelly - Associate Professor of Psychology at the National College of Ireland
Michelle is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the National College of Ireland. She holds an Honours Degree in Psychology and a doctorate in Behaviour Analysis and Therapy, both from Maynooth University.
She is also an Accredited Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Trainer with University College London. Her research focuses on early interventions for people with dementia, and behavioural approaches to improving brain health for older adults.
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Helpline: 1800 341 341
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Family Carer Training
www.alzheimer.ie/about-dementia/family-carer-training/
Irish Dementia Cafe Network
www.dementiacafe.ie/
Book recommended during this episode of the podcast – The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris
7 episodes