Table 9 Ireland

Area (2021)

70,300 km² [21]

Spread of dementia-specific outpatient care services for people with dementia

In some regions

Expert notes regarding outpatient care

These services are mainly provided in urban areas, whereas rural areas do not offer services in this field. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some memory cafés have virtualised their services so that people from rural areas can also access them.

Spread of dementia-specific inpatient care services for people with dementia

No specialised services

Expert conclusion regarding dementia-specific care structures

Existing services are not suitable to adequately care for people with dementia, as there is a lack of dementia-specific services and existing ones are often not dementia-friendly. Further problems are the difficulty in obtaining a dementia diagnosis and the dependence of access to care services on one’s place of residence.

Existing models of good practise

The provision of information about dementia to people with dementia and their families by GPs, community nurses, and ‘The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’ (the Alzheimer Society offers both written informational packages and a telephone counselling service.)