Irish In Britain

Cuimhne

Cuimhne (pronounced ‘queevna’) is the Irish word for memory. We use the term ‘memory loss’ as it is more acceptable to many members of the Irish community than the term ‘dementia’, which is often stigmatised.

We also believe using this term aims to recognise the uniqueness of each person and the differing ways in which people are affected by, and cope with memory loss.

OUR CAMPAIGN

Our Cuimhne campaign is a call for action to everyone, to individuals and to organisations both within our network and beyond, to involve and include people living with memory loss and dementia and their carers in our society. We want to work together to promote awareness of memory loss and create a friendly community for everyone.

We can each take action to promote a socially inclusive society and raise awareness about dementia. Join our Cuimhne campaign and help promote the simple measures we might take together to enable people with memory problems to remain independent and engaged with local communities and services and to better support family carers.

SUPPORT FOR CARERS

Central to our plan is to support family carers as well as individuals who may have some form of memory loss, this is why we have created the Cuimhne Carers Project, here you will find access to recorded webinars, reminiscence resources We have some links to for advice on financial support here.

Access the Cuimhne Carers Project here. 

Read our Cuimhne Champions Blog here

BOOK AND VIDEO

Watch our video ‘My Story’, which is to help carers and family members use our Memory Book to support people with memory loss and dementia. Contact Cuimhne to find out more about our memory book.

WHY CAMPAIGN ABOUT DEMENTIA AND MEMORY LOSS?

The 2011 Census identified the Irish as having the oldest aged profile than any other ethnic group in Britain. Out of 500,000 in the group, 204,000 are over the age of 60 with a further 80,000 between the ages of 50 and 60 years. 11% of the Irish community identified as being a family carer – many carers are elders with health needs. 

The older age profile of the Irish population in Britain compared to the general population and other minority ethnic groups is inevitably accompanied by problems of (mostly preventable) ill–health. Although there is no empirical evidence relating to dementia, community organisations are daily faced with significant numbers of people with memory loss, most of which is undiagnosed or untreated.

Given the incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke and hypertension in the Irish community, the risk of vascular dementia may well be higher than the age profile of the population suggests.

The poor socio–economic circumstances of a significant proportion of the older population living in areas of marked multiple deprivation, confounds their ability to access health and social care in an equitable or timely manner.

TAKE ACTION! YOU CAN GET INVOLVED AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR AN ORGANISATION

Find out about the training we can provide

Join our campaign and pledge to take action

Volunteer as a Cuimhne Champion

Contact us to set up training for your group or organisation