According to current statistics there are 850,000 people in the UK with dementia and two-thirds of these people are living in the community rather than in care homes. This means that for people with Dementia, they need the help and support of local communities and businesses to ensure they can maintain a good standard of living.
Being at the heart of the community in Bury, Mill Gate Shopping Centre has been training staff to ensure that, for people with dementia, visiting the centre is a happy and enjoyable experience. Especially as according to figures from the Alzheimer’s Society, almost 80% of people with dementia say shopping is their favourite activity.
At Mill Gate, over three quarters of the staff have been specially trained to recognise the signs of dementia in customers and how to look after them while being mindful of their needs. The specially trained staff also wear badges so that customers can easily identify the trained staff without worrying about who to ask.
Marie Gribben, Mill Gate Shopping Centre Manager said “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do and we are really passionate about making their experience here perfect. This is why we have committed to making the centre as dementia friendly as possible and supporting those that suffer on a daily basis by making their trip to the centre fun and stress free”
Barry Lyon, Services Manager for Wigan, Bolton and Bury said: “It’s great to see staff at Mill Gate Shopping Centre uniting against dementia and making a major stride in raising awareness about the condition by becoming Dementia Friends. Dementia is the biggest health and social care crisis facing society today. Someone develops the condition every three minutes and too many are facing it alone.
“Dementia affects people, their carers and families in different ways but one thing seems universal: people don’t always get the support or understanding they deserve. We need more people and organisations like Mill Gate Shopping Centre to help us break down the stigma surrounding the condition by joining our growing movement for change, today.”
For more information on the dementia friendly services that Mill Gate provides please visit the centre website. And to learn how to become a Dementia Friend, please visit the Dementia Friends website.
