Tea Day for Alzheimer's returns on 5th May

RTÉ stars Dáithí Ó Sé and Sinead Kennedy are calling on Meath to host a Tea Day to mark Alzheimer’s Tea Day Comeback year on Thursday 5th May.

After two long years, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) is inviting everyone to come together again for a cup of tea, a chat and maybe a treat or two on 5th May to help raise funds for vital dementia supports and services.

The ASI is asking the people of Meath to get involved with local Tea Day events in their homes, gardens, workplaces, schools, local community centres or somewhere special.

The traditional Alzheimer’s Tea Day was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19, and the event had to be moved online.

But now, Alzheimer’s Tea Day, the ASI’s biggest and most important fundraiser, is back. The ASI aims to raise vital funds to provide supports and services to help families living with dementia nationwide.

There are an estimated 2,078 people living with dementia in Meath and each year more than 11,000 people develop the disease across the country – that’s at least 30 people every day. However, there is one thing you can do to help – you can put the kettle on and host your very own Tea Day!

HOW TO HELP TEA DAY MAKE A COMEBACK - FOUR EASY STEPS:

1. SIGN UP – Join us in this Tea Day Comeback Year! Register on teaday.ie and we’ll send your Organiser’s Toolkit which includes posters, collection boxes, raffle tickets, and everything you need to make your Tea Day a success!

2. HOST – Share a cuppa, share a few stories, maybe share a laugh with your friends and loved ones at home, in the garden, at work or in the community. You can host Tea Day however, and wherever, you like!

3. REMEMBER – Remember that you’re doing something really wonderful. All of the funds you raise will go to support dementia services – and help people when they really need it.

4. SHARE your Tea Day event on social media. Post your photos and videos and don’t forget to use our hashtags #TeaDay2022 #TogetherForTea

By supporting Tea Day, you can make an incredible difference:

€10 provides an hour at an Alzheimer’s cafe for a person with dementia.

€35 provides one hour of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy.

€70 provides a session of Musical Therapy.

€150 runs a Social club for one day.

Can’t host a Tea Day this year? You can still support dementia care and services by making a donation on Alzheimer.ie

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Ambassador, Dáithí Ó Sé said: “I’m delighted to support Alzheimer’s Tea Day again this year. Can you believe it? It’s been three years since we’ve been able to gather for a proper Tea Day get-together. So, let’s make up for lost time, lost connection, and lost funds and come together to make 2022 the Great Tea Day Comeback Year! On Thursday, May 5th we want everyone to have a chat, a laugh, a brew and donate a few euro to The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s Tea Day campaign to help provide essential dementia-specific services for the 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland.

“The sad truth is that the last two years have been particularly difficult for those living with dementia. Across the board, the decrease in routine and social engagement has caused a decline in the health of so many. That’s why now, it’s so important that we make sure everyone has the support they need.

“Alzheimer’s and dementia is a nationwide issue – it affects so many families right across Ireland. It reaches across generations, genders and affects people of all kinds of backgrounds. By hosting your very own Tea Day on May 5th, you’ll be making it possible for those living with dementia and their carers to access vital supports.

“Tea brings us all together – and we need that more than ever right now! Register for your pack at www.teaday.ie today and get the kettle on to make your strongest cup of tea yet!”

TV Presenter, Reporter and ASI Ambassador Sinead Kennedy said: “I’m excited to team up with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland again to support their Tea Day campaign. The traditional Alzheimer’s Tea Day has been cancelled these past two years due to Covid-19, so it’s fantastic that people can come together once again in this Great Tea Day Comeback.

“Dementia is a huge issue for our society. Every day, at least 30 people are diagnosed with dementia in Ireland– even people in their 30s/40s/50s. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland provides supports and services in local communities around Ireland including dementia advisers, day care, home care, family carer training, social clubs and Alzheimer Cafés. But every day, the pressure on these services is growing as the demand increases. We can all help to make a difference.

“Join us on May 5thto raise much-needed funds so more people across Ireland who are living with dementia can access the supports and services they need. How and where you host Tea Day is completely up to you; you may wish to host Tea Day at home, in the garden, at work or in the community. Your Tea Day might look like a quiet cuppa with a few friends, or it might be a big party with your loved ones and neighbours! Whether it’s big or small, it doesn’t matter; it’s all about people coming together after so much time apart. Tea Day is finally back – let’s make it better than ever! For more information go to teaday.ie.”

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Interim CEO Siobhan O’Connor said: “We are so pleased that Alzheimer’s Tea Day, our biggest and most important fundraising event of the year, is making a comeback. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we had to celebrate it online these past two years; now, people can finally gather again for Tea Day. The ASI really depends on the funds that the event generates each year to ensure our support services are maintained. We are asking the nation to support us and to get involved in this Great Tea Day Comeback in any way they can; whether it’s by hosting their very own Tea Day or making a donation on Alzheimer.ie. Funds raised will make an incredible difference to the lives of people living with dementia and their carers. We are extremely grateful for all the continued support and we are so pleased to welcome back our wonderful ambassadors Dáithí Ó Sé and Sinead Kennedy to support our Tea Day campaign once again.”