Dementia and SAIF

Dementia has become one of the nation’s greatest health challenges and the impact on UK businesses is great. With nearly 44% of people either directly or indirectly affected, we know that a large number of SAIF members and customers will be dealing with dementia in some way.

A survey carried out by Alzheimer’s Society found that 73% of UK adults thought that society was not adequately prepared to deal with dementia. This illustrates that the partnerships across communities are crucial to the wellbeing and health of employees and customers and are more important than ever before.

What is Dementia Friends?

Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends initiative is the biggest-ever social action movement on dementia to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about a condition that touches the lives of millions of people.

A Dementia Friend learns a little more about dementia and the small way to help those affected. It is a simple yet effective way to equip SAIF members with the necessary tools to communicate with customers, friends and family affected by dementia. With more than two million Dementia Friends, Alzheimer’s Society is halfway to reaching its target of four million by 2020.

Becoming a SAIF Dementia Friend/Fundraising for Alzheimer’s Society

SAIF Chief Executive Terry Tennens said: “We announced at SAIF’s Annual Meeting on 9 March in Brighton that at December’s quarterly Board meeting, the SAIF National Executive Committee agreed to enter into a partnership with Alzheimer’s Society. The purpose of this partnership is for our member firms to be in a state of readiness to respond to clients or their next of kin who live with dementia.

“Additionally, we want SAIF members to create an avalanche of Dementia Friends across the UK via the National Society; develop deeper practising dementia-friendly businesses as examples of professional caring businesses; and not least to raise funds for this noble work that currently affects 850,000 people in the UK, with projections to substantially increase and impact our way of life.”

Alzheimer’s Society offers a simple online video route. All you need to do is watch two short, informative videos to become a Dementia Friend. Members should:

• Visit the Dementia Friends website
• Enter SAIF’s unique organisation code SAIF1234
• Your postcode and number of people watching
• When all members of your business have watched the videos, please either email SAIF or call SAIF Business Centre on 01279 726777 to claim your badges and action cards.

Alzheimer’s Society has lots of exciting fundraising opportunities for members to get involved in, including placing one of its collection tins in your site, selling their forget-me-not pins or taking part in a personal challenge.

For more information on how you can fundraise or order a collection tin, please contact Joe Swan and mention SAIF when making contact so they know you’re a member.

Dementia Action Week – take action and help improve the lives of people with dementia

Dementia Awareness Week has now changed to become Dementia Action Week (DAW) and takes place from 21 to 27 May. Raising awareness and offering support will always be important, but it’s time we all act to make change happen for people affected by dementia.

This DAW, people are asked to unite and take actions big and small to make a difference to the everyday lives of people with dementia. It could be as simple as being more patient in queues or helping make your business dementia friendly by visiting the Alzheimer’s Society website.

SAIF members are asked to unite to make this the best DAW yet. There will be plenty of ways you can get involved in your local community, and across the country, during the week. Hear more about the week and get free awareness or fundraising materials by signing up to take part.

If members have any questions about DAW, please email marketing@ alzheimers.org.uk

General support

Looking for information, support or advice about dementia? The Alzheimer’s Society helpline is here for you online, or call 0300 222 11 22.

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