The world we live in could be geared much better for people with dementia. That’s where your business or organisation can help – no matter how big or small it is.

Understand Together is strongly committed to establishing partnerships with organisations and businesses. This can be at a national or local level. As these partnerships grow and develop, it will make a big difference to the daily lives of people with dementia living in the community. It is estimated that every second person knows someone with dementia so chances are that many people working in your organisation will have direct experience of dementia.

You can also help your customers with dementia by making some small changes in the workplace. This might involve changing signs, talking to them in a different way or giving a little extra assistance when it is needed.

What can you do as an Understand Together partner?

1. Train your staff
Many of our business partners deal directly with the public, including people with dementia (who number over 64,142 in Ireland). As your staff become more aware of dementia and understand it better, everyone’s experience will improve. That’s better for us all. Free online training courses specifically developed for public facing staff are available through our partners Dementia Elevator.

2. Publicly support the campaign
Let everyone know that you’re an Understand Together partner and proud to make the workplace more dementia friendly.

3. Use promotional material
We’ve got lots of promotional material to help you share the message. Please display it in the business place and share information about your involvement through your website, social media, newsletters and your networks.

4. Be active in the media
Let’s tell the world together! Undertaking media activities publicises your organisation as well as our campaign. It’s a win-win situation.

In addition, we will work with your organisation to identify key promotional activities and awareness initiatives.

We’ll support you all the way with information and training. Additionally, our campaign team will provide promotional materials including public relations materials, advice and support. We’ll also help you to connect with local organisations working to make life better for people with dementia and their loved ones.

The campaign team can help support your involvement by supplying promotional material and highlighting your work if you’re happy for us to do that. We want everyone to know what’s happening so more and more people and businesses will get involved. This could be through media activities, the campaign website, social media or other channels.

To find out more please contact:

Cairín Conway
National Dementia Campaign Manager
HSE Communications Division,
Dr. Steevens’ Hospital, Dublin D08 W2A8
Tel: 01 635 2067
Email: cairin.conway@hse.ie

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