STAFF at seven businesses based at The Valley have become Dementia Friends to help improve the shopping experience for those living with Dementia.
Last Wednesday (March 8) staff from Evesham Garden Centre, Bessie and Boo, Mountain Warehouse, Cotswold Needlecraft, Absolute Silver, Paves and Julian Charles took part in a training session hosted by the Alzheimer’s Society.
During the session, run by Dementia Friends Champion Elizabeth Green, staff were given advice and tips on how to make their shops as dementia friendly as possible.
It’s all part of Evesham’s campaign to be officially recognised as a dementia friendly town, with the bid being led by the Evesham Dementia Action Alliance. The group is trying to get as many staff as possible at businesses across the town to become Dementia Friends.
Marketing manager at The Valley, Phil Maclean, said: “In an ageing generation living longer, we recognise the importance of the Dementia Friends movement and want to work towards harnessing a shopping environment that welcomes both people that live with Dementia, their carers and their friends and families.
“We would like to thank Elizabeth for delivering such a positive workshop, and because of that we have all gone away with Dementia at the forefront of our minds.”
Anyone interesting in becoming a Dementia Friend can contact the Alzheimer’s Society’s Worcestershire Office on 01905 621868 to find out details of sessions being organised by the Evesham Dementia Action Alliance.
