STAFF at The Press have signed up to become ‘dementia friends’ in support of an awareness campaign about the illness.
Public Health England and the Alzheimer’s Society are encouraging people across the country to sign up to the campaign by watching a short video online to increase their understanding of dementia.
Staff from various departments at The Press have now done so.
There are about 3,000 people currently living with dementia in York and many more who are friends or carers of those affected by it, City of York Council has said.
Gavin Aitchison, news editor of The Press, said: “The Dementia Friends project was a valuable and interesting one for many of us at The Press.
“Everyone can benefit from a few reminders or tips on how to be as helpful as possible and as the number of people being diagnosed with dementia continues to rise, we recognise that it’s increasingly important that we all do everything we can to better understand and support people with this condition.
“We were pleased to be able to join the growing list of organisations improving our awareness in this way and I’d encourage everyone to take the time to become a Dementia Friend.”
A number of businesses with shops in York have signed up to the campaign and will be encouraging their employees to become Dementia Friends, including Marks & Spencer, Lloyds Bank and Superdrug.
Cllr Linsay Cunningham-Cross, City of York’s Council’s cabinet member for health, said: “City of York Council is delighted that The Press have signed up to become Dementia Friends.
“Becoming a Dementia Friend involves finding out more about what dementia is, and the small things that can be done to make a big difference to a person living with the condition. People can live well with dementia; it just takes a little understanding and care from those around them.
“Let’s hope other businesses in the city follow the lead of The Press and become Dementia Friends too.”
For further information on the campaign and about how to become a Dementia Friend, please visit dementiafriends.org.uk
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