Dementia Friend Training

Dementia Friend Training

Staff at South Caernarfon Creameries have undertook training from the Alzheimer’s Society to become ‘Dementia Friends’.

It comes after our workforce raised over £800 for the Alzheimer’s Society, and their decision that they wanted to learn more about the effects of dementia.

A dozen staff took part in the Dementia Friends training to gain insight and better understanding of how to support friends, family and other people affected by the condition.

The participants were presented with Dementia Friends badges to wear when out in the community.

Managing Director at South Caernarfon Creameries, Alan Wyn Jones, said: “As far as we are concerned our co-operative members across North and Mid Wales and in Ceredigion are one big family. Sadly, some members of that family will have been touched by dementia at different points in their lives. That’s why we chose to support Alzheimer’s Society and raised over £800 for this worthy charity through a Christmas raffle. When the Society offered to hold a follow-up workshop here as a thank you we didn’t hesitate to take them up on it.”

One in three people in the UK have someone close to them affected by dementia.

Helen Marchant, Alzheimer’s Society Community Fundraiser for North Wales said: “There’s so much local communities can do to improve the quality of life for people diagnosed with dementia. Among the aims of our workshops is to educate and inform, to increase awareness of dementia issues and get past generalisations, the tendency to class everyone diagnosed with dementia as the same. Crucially, we encourage people to think first before reacting in an inappropriate way to someone whose behaviour may seem irrational or odd.”

She recommended practical steps that can be taken to make a difference. She said: “Some are quite simple, such as removing a black mat from a shop doorway because a person with dementia can misinterpret it as a deep black hole which they fear falling into.

SCC Sales and Marketing co-ordinator Megi Williams said: “Many people think it’s just a question of a person suffering memory loss but there’s so much more to dementia than its effect on the memory. Having the knowledge to recognise symptoms and the confidence to tune into a person’s changed behaviour patterns or different way of conversing enables us to better understand and help them. That can only be a good thing.”

Staff member Haf Williams helped organise the workshop said: “I’d recommend anyone to check out the website or attend a workshop like this.”

Visit the Alzheimers Society website for more information www.alzheimers.org.uk