Dungarvan is on course to become Ireland’s first dementia-friendly town

Thirteen businesses in Dungarvan have signed up to train staff to recognise customers with dementia. Rebecca Maher reports

WE all forget where we put our keys, our doctor’s appointments or the name of a movie, but the loss of memory with dementia is different.

The numbers of people suffering from the disease are set to treble in a generation. Ireland must brace itself for a “dementia tsunami”, say the experts.

However, one Co Waterford town has a plan to tackle the rising numbers of dementia sufferers.

Dungarvan will be the first dementia-friendly town in Ireland. Thirteen businesses are involved in a free training programme, which teaches businesses to recognise the symptoms of dementia in potential customers.

The Home Instead Senior Care national network, which provides care in the home, both privately and on behalf of the HSE, is organising the free training programme for businesses and their staff.

Staff in shops and businesses come into contact with dementia and Alzheimer’s sufferers.

Currently, 48,000 people in Ireland suffer from dementia, with the number expected to increase to 140,000 by 2041 — a 240% hike on the 2006 figure.

Manager of Home Instead Senior Care in Waterford, Ray Power, said society must adopt a new way of thinking to deal with the rising number of dementia sufferers.

“Quite a lot of our action, so far, has been to put people with dementia into some sort of long-term care.

“Obviously, with the sharp increase in the number of people developing dementia, long-term care is just not going to work in the future, so we have to find a new model,” he added.

Mr Power said the aim of dementia training workshops was to help businesses and their staff to understand when a person may be confused or disorientated, and to recognise the symptoms of dementia and be able to interact appropriately with that person.

“Every day, staff in Dungarvan banks, pharmacies, retailers, coffee shops and restaurants come into contact with people with dementia.

“If we can offer training to businesses, whereby the business will be more open and welcoming, and will understand the actions of somebody suffering with dementia, and where the family caregiver will feel at ease going in, knowing they’re not going to be judged, then that’s our aim,” he added.

So far, businesses such as The Park Hotel, Garvey’s SuperValu, Bank of Ireland, AIB and local pharmacies and restaurants have all availed of the free programme.

Dungarvan Chamber of Commerce also supports the training programme. The chamber’s CEO, Jenny Beresford, said the initiative will put Dungarvan on the map as a role model for other towns and counties.

“The training programme has worked well in other countries, and so we would like to replicate something like that here in Waterford,” she said.

“We’re delighted to be involved in Dungarvan becoming one ofthe first dementia-friendly towns and, certainly, we would like to be looked at as best practice in the future and that other towns might take some inspiration from us,” she added.

As well as businesses, Ms Beresford said they are also hoping to extend the training programme into other aspects of society.

“We’re targeting businesses first, and then hoping to roll it out into community groups and people who would be involved in their local community.

“Whether it’s somebody going to mass or whether it’s just somebody that might run a voluntary operation, it’s important that they be aware of the signs and symptoms, and be able to help and assist someone who may be suffering from dementia,” she said.

Retail advice

Alzheimer Society tips to retailers when interacting with a person with dementia:

• Speak clearly: Use short, simple sentences allowing the person time to understand and respond.
• Body language: Smile warmly, make eye contact, use a friendly tone and respect their personal space.
• Listen carefully: Give plenty of reassurance that you understand what it is they need or want.
• Limit choices: Too much choice can be confusing. Keep choices to a minimum. and if necessary describe the options available to them.
• Handling money: Recognising coins and notes and knowing the value of money may be difficult. Give them extra time to complete the transaction and always provide a receipt.