TWO businesses have stepped up to support the drive to make Ilkley dementia-friendly,

Staff at Santander and Tesco used the sessions to talk about customers who may have dementia, and feel the session has given them more confidence in dealing with those people, as well as looking after their own relatives diagnosed with the disease.

The next step will be for the businesses to put together action plans on how they can continue to work to support those living with dementia, including clear signage, accessibility and quiet areas where staff can talk to customers if they are finding it difficult to communicate.

Support is available for them from Bradford Dementia Action Alliance and The Alzheimer’s Society in putting together their action plans, and businesses are not expected to make major changes, but work towards making their places more dementia-friendly.

Once their action plans are written, they will be submitted to Bradford Dementia Action Alliance and put on their website. As the businesses begin to implement those plans, they can apply for Dementia Friendly recognition, which allow them to display the ‘Working to become Dementia Friendly’ logo.

The move is part of a campaign to make Ilkley a better environment for residents and visitors with dementia.

The Dementia Friends sessions were delivered by local 'Champions' for the cause, Alison Eagle and Sylvia Bergin, who are part of the group Dementia Friendly Ilkley Action.

Alison said: "It’s great Santander and Tesco are so enthusiastic – these are our first businesses to come on board and, hopefully, it will encourage others to begin the process of becoming more dementia-friendly."

Following the session at Santander, branch manager, Lucy Harris, said: "We are keen to achieve the status of working towards becoming a dementia-friendly organisation and being able to display the logo, as this will reassure customers living with dementia, and their carers and families, we are aware of the issues and are here to support them with their needs.”

Businesses and organisations can contact Alison and Sylvia via dementiafriendlyilkley@gmail.com if they wish to find out more about the sessions.

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