The business advantages of becoming dementia friendly
Dementia affects every workplace, but things are looking brighter in Worthing, where local businesses are recognising this issue and signing up to the Worthing Dementia Action Alliance to support the town in becoming a Dementia Friendly Community. 
The Worthing Dementia Action Alliance is holding a Dementia Friendly Community event for businesses on 28th March 2017, Worthing Leisure Centre, Shaftesbury Avenue, Worthing from 5.30pm with buffet and networking. Businesses and organisations of all sizes are welcome to attend, and more details can be found be visiting www.dementiafriendlyworthing.org
Local businesses leading the way include Bennett Griffin, Southdown Leisure, Barclays Bank, Relative matters, Hanover Housing, Breathing Spaces and Fine Marketing, who are all supporting their community through different action plans.
Local charities and providers, Guild Care, Alzheimer’s Society, Coastal West Sussex Mind, Crossroads, St Barnabas Hospital and Darlington Court Care Home, are all members as are St Lawrence Surgery, Offington Park Methodist Church; Worthing Library and West Sussex County Council. Two of the town’s largest employers, Worthing & Adur District Council and the Stagecoach Bus Company, are currently formulating their action plans.
‘This will have an enormous impact on people who live and work in the town,’ said Julia Johnson. ‘Making a positive change through offering staff Dementia Friends information sessions (all free and delivered by volunteers), will reduce the stigma and provide a workplace culture where people can talk openly about the disease. With 1 in 9 working people caring for someone older, ill or disabled, dementia is frequently a hidden issue in the workplace.’
With over 14,000 people living with dementia along the densely populated coastal strip from Shoreham to Chichester, who, daily use shops, public houses, restaurants, hairdressers, public transport, banks, theatres, to name but a few, it would be particularly helpful for staff, to have a greater knowledge and understanding of dementia to enable them to offer a little extra support and empathy with their purchases.
More details visit www.dementiafriendlyworthing.org/dementia-friendly-business or email info@dementiafriendlyworthing.org
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