Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce Newsletter August | Page 14

WHY BECOME A DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY BUSINESS? More and more businesses are beginning to respond to the impact of dementia on both customers and employees. Customer service and human resource strategies have begun to address the questions of how to meet the needs of customers with dementia and their care partners, as well as the needs of employees who are caring for someone with the disease. With 70-90% of people with dementia living at home, they and their family care partners will choose businesses that are easy to navigate and that have helpful, aware staff. Dementia-friendly business will help retain existing customers and employees and attract new ones. Magnitude: 15 million people care for someone with Alzheimer’s or other dementia and 6.6 million of those people are employed. Lost productivity and time off costs (i.e. replacing caregiving employees, workday interruptions, absenteeism, and shifts from full-time to part-time work) are estimated to be as high as $34 billion annually. Businesses that support their caregiving employees are not just benevolent - they are smart: every $1 companies spend on eldercare support reaps a $3 to $14 return. TO BECOME A DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY BUSINESS: Have at least 50% of employees complete ½ hour training(s), scheduled on-site and at your convenience. Training includes recognizing signs/symptoms of dementia, how to communicate, is your environment dementia friendly, and knowledge of local resources. Designate a team leader to be liaison between employees and the Dementia Friendly Monroe County Coalition to promote more dementia friendly work in the community. Include dementia training for new employee orientation. Consider using the free, 20 minute online overview of dementia for community members: https://wss.ccdet.uwosh.edu/stc/dhsdementia/psciis.dll? linkid=339455&mainmenu=DHSDEMENTIA&top_frame=1 Receive a purple window cling that states “We Are Dementia Friendly” for your business. Contact Julie Anderson, Dementia Friendly Monroe County Coalition at 608-269-8666 or [email protected]