Living Well with Dementia – See the Person, Not their Dementia.

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See the Person,
Not their Dementia.

We deliver innovative services and supports to people
living with dementia and their families in their communities.

Welcome to Living Well with Dementia

We are here to help

Are you or someone you care for living with a diagnosis of dementia. If so, Living Well with Dementia is here to support you. If you are living in Dublin South, Dun Laoghaire or Dublin South East and have a diagnosis of dementia we would love to hear from you. (LWwD) is an award-winning initiative which develops and delivers innovative services and supports to people living with dementia and their families in their communities. To find out if you live in the areas where our services are available, please click here.

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Our Support and Services

Social activity
groups for people
with dementia

Information & Advice
for people with dementia
and family members

Promoting
dementia
awareness

The LWwD programme is grant aided by the HSE Community Healthcare East and is hosted by Southside Partnership Blackrock. Our vision is of a community that respects, supports, and empowers people with dementia, a community in which people with dementia are socially and culturally valued, and where they can actively participate in society and are supported to remain living at home and active in their community for as long as possible. Central to the success of the programme is respect for the dignity, welfare and wellbeing, will and preferences, beliefs and values of each person living with dementia.

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Volunteers play a vital role in the Living Well with Dementia programme and they are our most valuable asset. They are critical to our success and bring expertise, experience and a unique perspective to the socialisation and activities component of LWwD. Volunteering is a small commitment of time —in return for making an enormous difference to a vulnerable person’s life.

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I have attended the exercise group in St Thomas Church, Mount Merrion for a number of years. I enjoy the weekly class and it is easy to get there because it is close to where I live. I like meeting the other people in the class and doing the light exercises and then having a cuppa and a chat afterwards. It's a very friendly, relaxed, and welcoming group, making it a pleasure to attend every week.

Donal C

My wife and myself derive significant benefit from the exercise sessions run in Fosters Avenue and the Movement to music sessions in Deansgrange. My wife suffers from advanced Alzheimers and I have Parkinsons. These sessions provide an opportunity to exercise under the guidance of professional PE and dance personnel. It also provides a social outlet which would otherwise be missing from our lives. The volunteers involved do a magnificent job in providing a safe and valuable environment for us and the many other people who attend.

T Fahey

My name is Con O'Connell. For the last ten years I have been volunteering with LWwD. I have loved every minute of it. At the moment I spend about two hours a week helping with our bridge club. Previously I have helped with one of the choirs and done some befriending. In the future I hope to befriend again. In my experience LWwD look after their volunteers well with training and support and are very flexible as regards the time demands on their volunteers. I would highly recommend volunteering with LWwD. It is a good thing to do for the people with dementia and their families and it is extremely rewarding for the volunteers.

Con O’Connell Befriending & Bridge Volunteer

I have been volunteering with Living well with Dementia for the last 9 years and have enjoyed every minute. There is always a lovely atmosphere within the group. People have made great friendships as a result. I have always got great satisfaction from helping other people and this is a wonderful setting in which to do that.

Louise Daly Choir Volunteer

Thank you one and all for all your work, warmth, understanding and endless consideration. You are a dream team. Abundance of gratitude.

G & A O’Connor

Oh, my goodness, where would we be without help from the LWwD programme! This programme is just of great benefit – my husband has dementia and meeting people and having the things you do is so good for us both, I’m so grateful and appreciate your programme so much.

E Byrne

My husband attends the Friday art class led by Caroline in Stillorgan. Sadly, he can no longer write due to a brain injury. We thought that he could not draw either. However, Caroline and her team of volunteers have encouraged him to draw and paint with some of his wonderful work exhibited in the Lexicon. Dave was so proud of his achievement and his family were so proud of him. Dave has gained in self-confidence by attending the art class. He says he never feels disabled there. He feels comfortable and relaxed with friends. Friday art class is his favourite time of the week.

K Madden

I retired in 2013 and I wanted to do something outside my comfort zone. I saw a Living Well notice looking for volunteers, so I applied — I had no experience or exposure to people with dementia. I help with the physical exercise class, getting the room ready, meeting and greeting people and making sure they are comfortable. It’s lovely when people arrive and recognise you and are positive about what they are doing. The coffee and chats afterwards are also great — the topics range from politics to history to sport! You realise that what you do as a volunteer matters, it makes a difference to clients and their families, even if it’s only for an hour or two.

Clare Howard Exercise Volunteer

The choir is the highlight of Mums week. She is always so happy on a Saturday to know she is coming along to this lovely group.

S Canavan

I have been a volunteer with LWwD for several years and I have found that connecting with people in a shared activity you both enjoy makes a difference to their lives. It is an easy and fulfilling way to contribute.

Maria Mc Guinn Bridge Volunteer

I have been volunteering with the Living Well with Dementia choir for several years. I very much enjoy the weekly practice and get great value from the experience. The joy it brings to the people with dementia who attend the choir as well as the friendship and camaraderie with the carers and fellow volunteers make it a very special time in the week. I see volunteering as a very fulfilling part of life and would recommend it to anyone considering it.

Joe Joyce Choir Volunteer

Thank you to you and all your team, for a super picnic in Festina Lente. We really enjoyed it, and the music was lovely. You and your team went to so much trouble to make it a really special day. We appreciate it very much. Thank you all.

M Caniffe

Thank you so much for a wonderful afternoon on Friday last. There was an amazing atmosphere and fantastic food. It was a huge job of work for you and all your team and very much appreciated by us all. LWWD is a great organisation and provides so much support and entertainment to both those with dementia and their Carer’s.

A & M Irvine

Enjoying Our Summer Party

Christmas Celebrations

Enjoying the Christmas Dancing!

LWwD Volunteers

Sweet Memories Choir

Robert Connors and our Sunshine Dancers

Our Art class

Bridge

'Keep Moving, Keep Well' Exercise Class

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Colours Chasing Me

🎨An Art Exhibit by the LWwD Friday Friends Art Group 🎨 🗓 Launched: Friday, 6th

The ‘Can You See What I See?’ book promotes living well with dementia and advocates for a society to see the person first and not the disease. It is strongly informed by listening to people with dementia, and to those who support them, their families, friends, and the medical professionals.

find out more

Here are some useful resources and links for further information about dementia.

click here

We are here to help

Our Support and Services

Social activity
groups for people
with dementia