Boots Ireland has undertaken a significant step in supporting people living with dementia in communities across Ireland by providing training to all staff that will promote a dementia-inclusive environment across its 89 retail and pharmacy outlets. World Alzheimer’s Day on 21 September was a timely reminder about the need for society to nurture greater understanding and awareness of the challenges and experiences of those living with dementia.
The training, developed with the Dementia: Understand Together campaign, has been rolled out to over 2,000 staff members in all 89 boots stores across Ireland. Led by the HSE in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Age Friendly Ireland, the Dementia: Understand Together campaign is one of six key priorities of the Irish National Dementia Strategy. The training modules were specifically modified for Boots staff and included testimonials from people living with dementia. Staff were given insight into the ways in which they can recognise behaviours that could indicate that a person may have dementia and identify common challenges a person with dementia may encounter in a store environment, as well as a range of options they could consider in supporting them. Staff were trained on the ways they can modify the support given to customers to help overcome simple barriers they may experience.
Dementia: Understand Together is now supported by over 40 partner organisations across Ireland, including in the retail, transport, banking, health, voluntary and community sectors. These organisations, together with over 340 “Community Champions”, are leading the way in creating communities that actively embrace and include those living with dementia and their families. Many businesses, from pharmacies to banks, along with sporting and cultural organisations, have taken steps to become dementia-inclusive. The first step is dementia training, which can be delivered online, to provide an understanding of life with dementia.
Pictured: Fiona Foley from Understand Together (far right) with reps from Boots