matthew gibb

Did you know that school secretaries and caretakers aren't entitled to access pensions? They are the heart of our schools and I value their work. So, I signed the pledge to support their campaign for pensions. Will you sign too? act.forsa.ie/pensionparitys…

Advanced Healthcare Planning Day, 12th September 2025, MISA Building, At. James's Hospital, Dublin. Meet the speakers. If you would like more information or to book your place please click the link below: eventbrite.ie/e/advanced-hea…

Minister O Donnell has today announced the HSE will commission the 1st National Dementia Registry in Ireland to map services, identify need & plan the delivery of equitable access to services @kodonnellLK @HSELive @DSIDCDementia

The National Dementia Services clinical lead Sean O'Dowd welcomed the commencement of the Registry & how it will offer exciting opportunities for research on many aspects of dementia care & how we can improve the health & wellbeing of people living with dementia & their families

We are back again for the second day of the 17th International Dementia Conference organised by @EngagingDemIrl. Education Officer Darko Zrnic is here with all our information booklets and happy to talk about our information and educational offerings #dementia @stjamesdublin

Announcement 🔊#CrucialViews #ArtsAndDementia event, joining us on the day, will be Sundara O Higgins, ( art-educator & a curator of the Horizons Art and Health programme) @IMMAIreland. She will facilitate an interactive, slow looking art session on the day in MISA. During a" Slow Art" session you will be led through an unhurried exploration of an artwork, making time for reflection & creative connections. An opportunity to hone your observational skills & cultivate a more mindful approach to viewing art. #CreativeLifeMISA @DSIDCDementia @MISAEducation For more information see, eventbrite.ie/e/crucial-view…

A special one-off educational event will be held in the MISA building in @stjamesdublin on 15/11/2024. This event includes guest speakers and the screening of the award winning documentary Don't Forget to Remember. Book your tickets here: CrucialViews.eventbrite.ie

Great to be here at #IGS2024. Such a great line up of speakers, covering an array of interesting topics. A day full of listening and learning ahead. @irishgerontsoc @alzheimersocirl @EngagingDemIrl @dementia_office #dementia

Our Assistant Education Officer Gillian Teague is also presenting her poster, titled "Person-centred dementia care made simple. Please stop by Gillian's poster for more information #IGS2024 @irishgerontsoc

Education officer Darko Zrnic is presenting his poster titled, "Enhancing education and training for professionals and formal carers: implementing microlearning. Please stop by Darko's poster for more information on this topic and all things DSiDC related. #IGS2024 #dementia

@rtenews Yes I saw that earlier. Lucan revolutionaries

A protest is under way in Lucan in Dublin, over a decision by the Health Service Executive to transfer the residents of a nursing home to alternative accommodation rte.ie/news/dublin/20…

Congrats to Cathryn, Izzie & team for great result tonight @DSIDCDementia @alzheimersocirl @dementia_office

Congrats to Cathryn, Izzie & team for great result tonight ⁦@DSIDCDementia⁩ ⁦@alzheimersocirl⁩ ⁦@dementia_office⁩

Great presentation from Lucy Richards at the DSiDC Wayfinding seminar at Trinity college Dublin @HSELive @dementia_office @StudioLR @BetterCompany_

Prof Gesine Marquardt presenting at the DSiDC Wayfinding seminar at TCD. Great talk @HSELive @dementia_office

@MichaelOkun @FixelInstitute Can I refer you to the Dementia Model of Care for Ireland. There’s a whole section dedicated to this very topic. People with dementia and their carers/supporters were involved in its development.

Do you know the 7 new 'best practices' for relaying a diagnosis of dementia? Did you know previous standards did not take input from the person with disease or from the caregiver/care-partner? This is a super important issue and Melissa Armstrong @FixelInstitute and colleagues performed an important 'freshly' published study. Key points: - It is common for folks to report not receiving a dementia diagnosis. - There are standards and as the authors point out they are more than 10 years old. - Guess what, the standards were developed without asking the person with disease or caregiver/care-partner. - The authors used a multi-stakeholder working group: a person w/ disease, caregivers, Alzheimer's Association staff and clinicians from diverse backgrounds. - Employed American Academy of Neurology process for recommendation development w/Delphi voting for consensus. - 7 best practice statements achieved consensus. - 1 Clinicians must show compassion and empathy when delivering a diagnosis of dementia (level A). - During dementia diagnosis disclosure, clinicians should - 2 ask regarding diagnosis preferences. - 3 instill realistic hope. - 4 provide practical strategies. - 5 provide education and connections to high-quality resources. - 6 connect caregivers to support resources. - 7 provide written summaries of the diagnoses, plan, and relevant resources (each level B). My take: It is about time someone addressed this topic and included both persons with disease and relevant stakeholders. The 7 best practices are simple and practical. In my experience many clinicians avoid this discussion rather than 'leaning into it.' If clinicians are concerned that cognition is slipping, measuring function over time and employing the use of neuropsychology can be very helpful. These discussions are as important to caregivers and care-partners as they are to family members. I love the author's suggestion that 'health system changes (e.g., for sufficient time), improved access to specialty dementia care, and clinician training for delivering difficult diagnoses' are all needed. neurology.org/doi/10.1212/CP…

Unless this is sufficiently widely disseminated via social media, it will never gain traction. Few, if any, mainstream papers or news outlets will touch the subject.

Note that @RachelReevesMP has committed to appointing a Covid Corruption Commissioner should Labour come to power. We talk and I'm really pleased she's promised this 👏🏼👏🏼 Also I remain independent. I don't, and never have, belonged to any political party. I just want us to live in a fair society without corruption & the humiliation of those who need help, and I'm prepared to fight for it.