The Home Instead Senior Care office serving Kelowna and Penticton is helping launch a new campaign designed to make the two cities more Alzheimer’s friendly.
Through the Alzheimer’s Friendly BusinessSM program, Home Instead will provide free training to local businesses to help equip their employees with information and resources needed to welcome families who are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.
Research has revealed that these family caregivers might be reluctant to frequent public places because of the behaviours that could be associated with the disease.
In a recent survey of Alzheimer’s caregivers, 74 per cent reported that they and their loved ones have become more isolated from the community as a result of the disease. Furthermore, 85 per cent reported that they feel a reduced quality of life due to isolation.
“For many caregivers, the unpredictable nature of the disease can make going out in public with their loved one intimidating,” said Don Henke, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care franchises in Kelowna and Penticton.
“It’s critical that local businesses start working now to build Alzheimer’s friendly communities to better serve their customers with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.”
Local businesses can work directly with the local Home Instead Senior Care office to coordinate in-person training. Call 250-860-4113 in Kelowna.
An online training module also is available at Alzheimers-FriendlyBusiness.ca.
