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Why Become a Dementia Friendly Business?
Why Become a Dementia Friendly Business?
A dementia friendly business is one whose employees know how to identify and appropriately interact with people who may be living with dementia in customer service settings, and whose physical environment is accessible for people with cognitive impairments.
A dementia friendly business is one whose employees know how to identify and appropriately interact with people who may be living with dementia in customer service settings, and whose physical environment is accessible for people with cognitive impairments.
A majority of people living with dementia live in the community, rather than in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. In other words, you're likely already serving people living with dementia. After all, everyone wants to visit their favorite shops and restaurants, and everyone needs to access banks and healthcare, no matter if they are living with dementia or not.
A majority of people living with dementia live in the community, rather than in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. In other words, you're likely already serving people living with dementia. After all, everyone wants to visit their favorite shops and restaurants, and everyone needs to access banks and healthcare, no matter if they are living with dementia or not.
Learning how to best serve this population is mutually beneficial. On the one hand, you will support the independence and dignity of people living with dementia. On the other hand, your employees will be able to do their job more easily. Plus, if your business is already working to be more age-friendly (by offering senior discounts, etc.), you can easily incorporate dementia friendly practices.
Learning how to best serve this population is mutually beneficial. On the one hand, you will support the independence and dignity of people living with dementia. On the other hand, your employees will be able to do their job more easily. Plus, if your business is already working to be more age-friendly (by offering senior discounts, etc.), you can easily incorporate dementia friendly practices.
Benefits of going Dementia Friendly:
Benefits of going Dementia Friendly:
- Smoother operations and customer service interactions
- Smoother operations and customer service interactions
- New customers
- New customers
- Retain loyal, long-term customers
- Retain loyal, long-term customers
Ways to Become a DFW Partner
Ways to Become a DFW Partner
Sign up for the monthly DFW e-newsletter.
Sign up for the monthly DFW e-newsletter.
Email Patty (hainsworthp@worcesterma.gov) or fill out this online form to be added to the mailing list.
Attend a DFW Action Team meeting.
Attend a DFW Action Team meeting.
Meetings are typically held on the first Wednesday of the month at 2:00pm at the Worcester Senior Center. Please see the Events Calendar tab to confirm the next meeting date. Meeting are currently being held via Zoom. Email Patty hainsworthp@worcesterma.gov to get the Zoom link.
Bring a Dementia Live session to your employees.
Bring a Dementia Live session to your employees.
Dementia Live is a high-impact dementia simulation experience that immerses participants in life with dementia. Contact Jeanne Pellegrino (jpellegrino@saintfranciesrehab.com).
Have your employees become Dementia Friends.
Have your employees become Dementia Friends.
Learn five key takeaways about dementia, and a bit about what it’s like to live with dementia. This program aims to build empathy through activities and discussions. Contact Beth Soltzberg (bsoltzberg@jfcsboston.org), and visit www.dementiafriendsma.org - the program is also available online!
Host a 'Dementia and Your Community' program from the Alzheimer's Association.
Host a 'Dementia and Your Community' program from the Alzheimer's Association.
This training is specifically geared towards the business sector. Learn how dementia impacts the brain and body and how to navigate communication challenges and behavior changes. You’ll learn strategies for working successfully with customers who have memory impairment. Contact (hainsworthp@worcesterma.gov) to learn more and schedule a training.
Participate in or volunteer at the Walk to End Alzheimer's.
Participate in or volunteer at the Walk to End Alzheimer's.
Held annually in September, the Walk is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Contact Catherine Leary (caleary@alz.org).
Spread awareness about dementia.
Spread awareness about dementia.
We will provide flyers, brochures, and caregiver guides about dementia supports for your employees, customers, and professional contacts.
Business Resources
Business Resources
A great place to start!
Fill out and send this checklist back to Patty (hainsworthp@worcesterma.gov) to let us know how you want to get involved in the business of being dementia friendly! Ways to get involved range from being added to our monthly e-newsletter, to hosting training programs for your staff.
This resources includes 8 helpful communication tips, as well as additional pointers for restaurants, hair salons and barbers, and grocery stores.
It's not just about customer service, but also your business' physical environment.
Dementia friendly communities engage all sectors of the community, from banks and legal services to restaurants and retail shops. Learn more about the role your business can play.
Boston's guide does a great job of highlighting the difference between age- and dementia friendliness in the business sector.
Dementia Friendly Businesses around the World
Dementia Friendly Businesses around the World
As part of the LIen Foundation's Forget Us Not (FUN) initiative, local stallholders were trained as Dementia Friends, to recognize and help customers living with dementia. As the stallholders have many regular customers, they can look for changes in behavior and alert family members. Stallholders now display checklists that explain signs of dementia and communication advice.
Together for a Dementia Friendly Bruges has received lots of attention for its multifaceted approach. Part of its success lies in its engagement of the business community.
For it's 200th anniversary in 2018, the Topsfield Fair partnered with Dementia Friendly Topsfield to provide a more manageable and supportive fair experience. The fair featured dementia friendly food vendors and staff educated in dementia awareness, who could offer simplified, illustrated menus and extra assistance.
All of the servers at the Restaurant of Mistaken Orders are living with dementia, and they may or may not get your order right. However, even if your order is mistaken, your meal is sure to be enjoyable because everything on the menu is delicious.
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