A charity which provides day services and runs a residential respite facility for people with Alzheimer’s is appealing for a site or property where they can set up a new day centre west of Galway city.

Western Alzheimer’s has been operating its day services for Galway West at a temporary location on the grounds of the Sacred Heart Church on the Seamus Quirke Road in the Westside after it could no longer use St Francis Home run by the HSE in Newcastle following changes implemented during Covid restrictions.

But because the service is in a communal church space, it can only run on three days and staff have to pack away everything to make way for other groups in the communal space.

There are currently 27 people who avail of the day centre, which is open from 10am to 3pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

The charity’s fundraising manager Triona Joyce explains that ideally the service would run five days a week like the one in Claregalway to meet demand.

“The day centre offers meaningful activities, a warm meal, it is run by a nursing team who may feel other therapies, assessments or supports are warranted for the people that come. It can give people a sense of belonging and take away some of the loneliness that comes with Alzheimer’s.”

The charity is open to being offered a half-acre site on which they can build a day centre or a property that already exists that they can modify to their needs. They are looking for something to buy or rent or a donation and preferably with space for a garden.

The organisation runs a home help service for 300 families in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.

Its respite accommodation facility in Ballindine on the Galway/Mayo border has recently undergone a €4.5m extension and offers space for 20 people to stay to give families a break from caring responsibilities.

A befriending service which pairs volunteers with people living at home for a few hours a week is also about to be set up in Galway, replicating the success of the initiative in Mayo.

“You don’t know about these services until such time as you experience it with your own family. I’m from Westport and didn’t know anything about Marian House in Ballindine until my mum was diagnosed,” said Triona.

“It’s such a unique, magical place and the befriending service has been a lifeline for my dad to go off to do grocery shopping or have a few hours to himself.”

The charity was formed in 1996 and supports over 500 families annually across the three counties.

Any queries can be made to 094-936 4900 or be emailing info@westernalzheimers.ie.

Pictured: Western Alzheimer’s Fundraising Manager Triona Joyce and Dementia Nurse Specialist Mary Murphy with John Morley of Galway Bay FM before a recent publicity interview