More than 10,000 One Stop colleagues are now ‘Dementia Friends’ and are equipped with a greater understanding of how the disease impacts its customers and how they can help.
There are an estimated 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, a figure projected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040. This year a further 209,600 people will develop this progressive illness – one every three minutes. Those affected are not just the elderly.
Liz Fox, One Stop’s Head of Sustainability & Social Responsibility, said: “Dementia Friends is a very simple but powerful initiative which educates and provides an understanding of what it’s like to live with dementia and understand a little more about how challenging everyday tasks can be.
“Our colleagues wear the Dementia Friends pin badge in stores to highlight to customers they can be relied on to assist any customers who may need it. This could be anything from supporting customers to locate the right products, to helping them at the till in a sensitive manner that builds trust.”
Joe Swan, Alzheimer’s Society Account Manager, added: “Knowing there are One Stop colleagues who understand a little about dementia and can offer a helping hand when it’s needed makes the world of difference to the 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK.”
It is not just One Stop store colleagues who now call themselves Dementia Friends, they can also be found in head office and its distribution centre.
Fox added: “The programme has really developed a greater understanding of dementia and fosters a sense of understanding and care. Supporting our local communities is at the heart of everything we do and this initiative has shown how our colleagues are passionate about supporting our customers with that extra bit of help when they visit our stores.”
