Slieve Russell is ‘Dementia Friendly’
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, in partnership with the Slieve Russell Hotel, Co. Cavan, has launched Ireland’s first dementia-inclusive hotel.
Officially launched by the Minister of State for Older People, Kieran O’Donnell T.D., the hotel offers a safe, supportive environment for guests living with dementia and their families.
The ASI collaborated with the hotel to provide specialist training to staff across all departments, with a number of team members becoming dementia champions to lead compassionate, informed service.
Dementia-friendly bedrooms designed with input from Dementia Inclusive Design Specialists from the University of Stirling are an important part of this initiative. The rooms feature clear signage and simplified layouts, non-reflective surfaces, minimal clutter, contrasting colours for visibility, and mirror blinds.
The hotel also offers designated accessible parking, and all public facilities include accessible restrooms with grab rails and emergency pull cords. Communal areas are easy to navigate and fully accessible, and signage throughout the hotel uses high-contrast visuals and intuitive design to reduce confusion. There are quiet zones to reduce sensory overload - providing guests with comfort, safety and autonomy. Just a short walk from the hotel’s front door, guests can find a tranquil garden which features an all-weather brick pathway and shaded seating to support relaxation and the well-being of those living with dementia and their families.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Kieran O’Donnell said:
"The Government remains deeply committed to supporting people to live well with dementia, and we wholeheartedly commend efforts like this initiative that enable everyone to enjoy travel and leisure with dignity and confidence."
Orla Murphy, People and Culture Manager at Slieve Russell Hotel, said:
"We are proud to be the first dementia-inclusive hotel in Ireland, dedicated to creating a warm, safe, welcoming and understanding environment for guests living with dementia and their families. We recognise that dementia care requires more than general awareness, and we are committed to leading by example in inclusive hospitality and will continue to invest in training and service improvements to foster connection and awareness for people living with dementia."
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