Alzheimer’s Tea Day is postponed

THE Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) has postponed its largest annual fundraising event due to coronavirus.

Alzheimer’s Tea Day events had been due to take place across the Garden County on Thursday, May 7.

The charity launched an urgent appeal for support to help them to continue their work with people with dementia and their families during this crisis. It’s estimated that 1,274 people living with dementia are based in Wicklow and for every one person with dementia three others are directly affected.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s CEO, Pat McLoughlin said, ‘Covid-19 is a public health emergency we have never seen the likes of before and this is affecting everyone on the planet. People with dementia are vulnerable and often confused and Covid-19 has heightened that for them. Today, we should all be preparing for the Alzheimer’s Tea Day, our biggest and most important fundraising event of the year. Alzheimer’s Tea Day has been our biggest fundraising event over the last 25 years and the organisation is so dependent on the funds that it brings in each and every year. However, the Covid-19 health crisis means that Alzheimer’s Tea Day has now been postponed and the vital funds it raises have been lost, so we are asking for your help to continue to support people with dementia and their families and carers.’

The charity points out that most people who are living with dementia are in the high-risk category for Covid-19 and most of their carers are also older and many have underlying health conditions.

The ASI National Helpline is open Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on 1800 341 341.