How To Make Your Business Dementia-Friendly

Did you know two-thirds of people with dementia still live at home? If you’re wondering what you can do to make your business dementia-friendly, the good news is every organisation can adapt how it operates to make everyday life more accessible and welcoming for people experiencing Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. 

What are the symptoms of dementia?

Everyone who lives with dementia experiences things in different ways.

And while most people only associate it with memory loss, lots of people living with it also struggle with language and speech issues, focus, organisation, and a sense of isolation and loneliness. Some people often worry about getting lost or being a burden to others.

As you can imagine, this makes even the simplest of tasks that we take for granted – like popping out for a newspaper, walking the dog, or paying a bill – suddenly become a really daunting challenge.

And while the majority of people with dementia do still live at home, sometimes they need a little more support completing everyday tasks so they can continue to live well and stay positive after their diagnosis.

However, there’s more we can do to ensure this is the case for people with dementia.

All of this adds to the fear and isolation, and here at A Good Day, we know there’s another way when we all come together and do our bit! 

Life doesn’t have to be over after a diagnosis – and with a few (often simple!) changes, we can all play our part to open up the world a little more for people with dementia.

Is it important to make my business dementia-friendly?

While research into a cure continues, EVERY business can take steps to make people with dementia feel more confident and comfortable in their daily lives.

That’s right: YOU have the power to make life a little easier for people living with dementia.

Imagine for a second the everyday life of a person with dementia, maybe someone in the earlier stages who is desperate to maintain their independence and navigate life by themselves.

Perhaps you can picture somehow you know who experienced or is currently experiencing a heartbreaking decline (we certainly can).

That person could potentially interact with so many different businesses throughout their week, from the local cafe to the big energy company, the nearby theatre to the housing association.

What does it mean to make your business dementia-friendly?

Being a dementia-friendly business is all about awareness and adaptation.

Seeing your customer experience through the eyes of someone with dementia allows you to take a step back, make changes, and show compassion and support to people in our society who crave empowerment, encouragement, and connection.

What are the benefits of becoming more dementia-friendly?

You might be surprised to learn that making your business dementia-friendly doesn’t just benefit your customers.

There are actually huge advantages to you, too. 

• Bring in more business – 83% of people with memory struggles have switched to a more dementia-accessible business
• Show support for colleagues, customers, and others who are being impacted by dementia
• Boost your reputation as a kind and responsible employer, so more people want to work for you and choose your brand
• Improve customer experience for everyone (many dementia-friendly changes make life easier for all customers)
• Improve customer loyalty.

Dementia-friendly business checklist

Of course, every business is different, so the things you can do to become more accessible and welcoming to someone with dementia will vary from the next business.

Alzheimer’s Society has identified three areas in which you can improve:

• People
• Processes
• Places

Below, we’ve given you a few ideas and signposts under each category to get started.

How to make your people more dementia-friendly

• Invest in training for your team to raise awareness and remove stigma 
• Create an open forum for people to discuss dementia and ask for the support they need for themselves or to help them care for others (e.g. technology adaptations or car shares)
• Become or appoint a Dementia Friend in your business to identify and implement steps towards being more dementia-friendly 
• Offer flexible working, compassionate leave, and respite care vouchers to anyone who needs them
• If you’re a care home, cafe, shop, or public-facing business explore dementia-friendly resources like games and activities to start conversations and build connections.

How to make your processes more dementia-friendly

• Join your local Dementia Action Alliance (DAA) to share ideas and processes with other businesses in your area to build a dementia-friendly community 
• Add dementia policies and objectives into your business strategy
• Provide different communication options to suit differing needs
• Offer a single point of contact option to give consistency to vulnerable customers
• Choose corporate gifts that support a good cause and fund dementia-friendly resources

How to make your places more dementia-friendly

• Use clear signage, large serif-free fonts, simple language, and visual explanations (e.g. photos, infographics and illustrations)
• Create blog posts, website pages, and printed documents to signpost customers to extra support and guidance
• Take part in awareness days/weeks/months to show your responsibility and educate colleagues, suppliers, and customers

Where can I find dementia-friendly resources?

Is your business dementia-friendly? Or do you need a little more guidance?

There’s so much support out there to make your business a more welcoming and accessible place for people with dementia. 

Here are some places to start:

• Alzheimer’s Society Business Guide
• Dementia Friends
• Dementia-friendly tourism guide
• Dementia UK support for businesses

What is A Good Day?

Hi, we’re here to give you A Good Day!

A Good Day is a family business founded by Emily Tyler after experiencing her beloved Nana Pauline’s deterioration into dementia. 

Emily saw first-hand the struggles families and carers go through to help their loved ones and stay connected as memories fade and every day gets harder.

Today, Emily and her husband Matt create innovative games, gifts, resources, and activities that empower people with dementia (as well as their loved ones and carers) to share joyful moments, feel supported, and understood.

Dementia is a heartbreaking condition – there’s no changing that. But we choose to see the positives and do our very best to make every day a little brighter for people living through it.

Have a look at our dementia inclusive games & activities – we’re 100% confident they’ll make you smile and inject a little positivity into your day (and P.S. there’s more coming soon, so follow us on Instagram to stay in the loop!).