Wexford business owners learn how to support customers with dementia

Staff from businesses across Wexford received certificates for their participation in a workshop which aimed to encourage Wexford businesses to become dementia friendly.

Wexford Chamber teamed up with Bluebird Care Wexford and the DCU Dementia Elevator team to run the free training course for staff in local shops and large organisations. It was established to equip customer-facing staff with the skills to support and engage appropriately with customers who have dementia.

The programme taught participants how to recognise when a customer has dementia, identify common challenges that this person may face, consider a range of options for supporting the person and identify ways of making the environment more dementia friendly.

While primarily focused around the retail environment and employees dealing with the general public, the training programme was also open to anyone who wished to learn more about dementia.

Commenting on the importance of supporting people with dementia, Madeleine Quirke, CEO of Wexford Chamber said:

'We all have family, friends and a life outside the front door where we act out our everyday lives. From shopping at the supermarket to exchanging pleasantries with our neighbours, all these social actions, networks and relationships are important and play a crucial role in sustaining and maintaining our quality of life, regardless of whether we are living with dementia or not. It is, therefore, incumbent on us all to ensure that people with dementia are not excluded from being full and active citizens of our community and have opportunities for continued self-growth, wellbeing and everyday life.'

Wexford People