A local home care company has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to the welfare of elderly residents in Shrewsbury by launching a long-term awareness programme to help educate the people of the town about dementia.
Inspired by Bruges in Belgium, which pioneered the dementia-friendly city concept, Radfield Home Care has set its sights on making Shrewsbury a Dementia-Friendly Town.
“The aim of the programme is to create an awareness of dementia, encourage a greater degree of respect and tolerance in the town, and to engage with dementia sufferers to ensure their experiences within the community are positive,” explained Dr Hannah MacKechnie, Director of Radfield Home Care.
“All too often, people with dementia tend to stay at home because they feel like a burden to their communities. In turn, they become less independent and their quality of life suffers, which can ultimately lead to more and more serious health issues.
“With the support of local people, we hope to replicate Bruges’ dementia-friendly status, remove the stigma associated with the illness, and empower those living with dementia to live as full and independent lives as possible.”
The launch of the Shrewsbury programme coincides with Dementia Awareness Week, which takes place between 17 – 23 May 2015 and aims to create a wider understanding of the condition.
Hannah continued: “I’d encourage all those that work in, own, or manage a business or public facing organisation in Shrewsbury to get involved. To find out more about becoming dementia-friendly and to help us spread the word, simply like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dementiafriendlyshrewsbury. In addition, those interested can get in touch to arrange for a member of the Radfield Home Care team to visit their place of work, and provide useful tips and information which will help them contribute towards making Shrewsbury truly dementia-friendly.”
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