Health Briefing

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Dementia waiting lists up by 20% in the last year

WAITING LISTS for dementia services have increased by 20 per cent in the last year, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland has claimed.

Demand for respite, day and home care services has risen as a result of changing demographics and more elderly people developing the illness. In 2009, demand for services increased by a third in a single year.

In its pre-budget submission, the society has called on the Government not to make further cuts to funding for those providing care to Alzheimer’s patients. The society currently receives €11.5 million in funding from the Government.

Last year, its budget was cut by €850,000. The society fears further cuts will mean it will not be able to cope with rising demand rising year on year. The society has also called on the Government to make good its promise made in the Programme for Government to make public a national dementia strategy by 2013.

Dementia has been described as a “demographic timebomb” as the number of elderly people increase as a percentage of the population. It is estimated that 44,000 people today suffer from dementia, including 4,000 under the age of 65. That is due to rise to more than 70,000 by 2026 and 130,000 by 2036.

Society chief executive Maurice O’Connell acknowledged that the Government was in a difficult place financially, but said his organisation was prepared to take a flexible response to funding and service delivery to ensure that any future strategy is delivered successfully.

Headstrong gets €1m for centres

A €1 MILLION grant has been given to Headstrong, the national centre for youth mental health, to roll out its six new Jigsaw sites in Donegal, Offaly, Clondalkin, Tallaght, North Fingal and Dublin 15.

The Jigsaw model creates safe spaces in communities where young people can access a wide range of mental health supports for free.

Some 16 communities from all over Ireland submitted applications to be selected as Jigsaw projects.The remaining 10 communities will all be offered a programme of support.

Centenarian becomes oldest marathon runner

A 100-YEAR-OLD British man has become the worlds oldest marathon runner after finishing a race in Canada.

Fauja Singh,  from Ilford, east London, ran the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in eight hours, 25 minutes and 16 seconds.

After almost 22 miles it looked like the centenarian might have to stop, but he battled on for another two hours to reach the finishing line in 3,850th place – ahead of five other runners.

Mr Singh, who only started running 11 years ago after the deaths of his wife and son, trains every day, running 10 miles. He attributes his success to ginger curry, cups of tea and “being happy”.

He holds the world record for the men’s over-90 category after completing the 2003 Toronto marathon in five hours and 40 minutes.

He has previously said: “The secret to a long and healthy life is to be stress free. If there’s something you can’t change then why worry about it?

“Be grateful for everything you have, stay away from people who are negative, stay smiling and keep running.”