What is a consortium?

This project has been designed so that a group or consortium of organisations and individuals come together to develop a community-based, local response to people with dementia and their carers. In order to ensure a true community-based model of supports is developed, it is essential that members of consortia extend beyond those agencies with a primary focus on dementia. Providers of what might be termed ‘generic’ services for older people should also be involved as this group represents a significant resource within the community.

In addition, other community groups and agencies with no specific remit for older people should also be involved to extend the capacity for support into the entire community. While any person or organisation with a genuine interest in this model of support is welcome to participate in a consortium, we have described essential and desirable members of a consortium, in order to place the emphasis on the development of community-based supports.

Essential members of consortia would include;

• Carers and individuals with dementia/representative older people;
• Community groups with a focus on older people;
• Organisations/community groups with a focus on carers and families;
• Voluntary/not-for-profit organisations with a focus on dementia;
• GP(s) and other primary health care providers such as public health nurses, home helps etc.;
• Providers of ‘mainstream’ services for older people, for example, HSE day centres;
• Other mainstream voluntary and community groups and initiatives.

Desirable members of the consortium include:

• Psychiatrists of Old Age and other mental health professionals;
• Geriatricians and others from the acute hospital sector involved in the medical care of older people.

Each consortium should have a nominated member who is responsible for all communication with Genio regarding the Expression of Interest process. This nominated member will be given a mandate from the consortium to represent all members. Consortia should have clear processes for decision-making, consultation among members and communication.

What is a DED?

A District Electoral Division is the unit of area that the Central Statistics Office uses to collect and report on population statistics. A detailed age breakdown of DED by age is not yet available for the 2011 Census so the 2006 Census figures should be used instead.

How do I get information on the population in DEDs?

The Central Statistics Office has reports on-line  and local HSE offices should have DEDs by age breakdown.

How do I find out about the prevalence of dementia?

The Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland has a report which gives the gender and age-specific prevalence rates for dementia which can be applied to your area population figures to calculate prevalence rates. The report also has a table with the rates already calculated for each country in Ireland.

What are natural supports?

The term natural supports, refers to family, friends and other (non-paid) resources inherent in community environments including “personal associations and relationships typically developed in the community that enhance the quality of and security of life for people….family relationships; friendships reflecting the diversity of the neighbourhood and community; association with fellow students or employees in regular classrooms and work places; and associations developed through participation in clubs, organisations and other civic activities”[1],[2].

What is the contribution from the consortium organisations?

The contribution from member organisations of the consortium can be money, staff, premises or other ‘in-kind’ services.

How do I describe value-for-money?

Value for money is the balance between the benefits obtained for the resources spent. The benefits considered should include benefits to the individual, the carer and the wider system (in terms of reduction in use in some services perhaps) i.e. improvements in a range of outcomes. Resources to be considered include the use of money, staff and other resources.

Helpful tips for successfully completing your Expression of Interest Form

All mandatory fields must be completed. It is not possible to upload the form if mandatory fields are blank. For example, in a previous grant round, fields left blank in the details of the first and second contact person prevented the form being uploaded.

Word limits are tight and very specific information is sought under each question, therefore:

• make sure you don’t waste words by duplicating content
• make sure you have provided details specific to the question being asked – don’t forget the obvious things!

Based on our experience of previous application processes it is ESSENTIAL that you leave enough time to resolve last minute issues. After having done weeks of work it would be very unfortunate to be unable to submit on time. In the interests of fairness we must stick to the advertised deadline. Please aim to have the form completed on the morning of the final day AT THE LATEST which then leaves time to resolve issues such as the above if they occur.