We run Leeds’ Age and Dementia Friendly business scheme.
More than 90 businesses have already signed up.
Could your business be number 100?
The scheme is open to all businesses and organisations, from bus stations to barbers, mosques to museums, and taxis to tax accountants – all are welcome!
Being age and dementia friendly means different things to every organisation. Here are some of the things that older people have told us make a real difference:
- seating available to customers – (see Come in and Rest)
- friendly, patient staff, with awareness around dementia
- offering a variety of ways to book, order or contact you – not only online
So what?
Why would you want to sign up?
Here are our top ten reasons:
- Create a welcoming city for everyone
Being Age and Dementia Friendly means providing a positive, welcoming experience for all. Making small changes can make a big difference.
- Improve your accessibility
An age friendly business is accessible. Consider your customers’ diverse needs in terms of your physical environment, the attitudes of staff and how you communicate with people.
- Support people living with dementia
In a dementia friendly business people will have an understanding of dementia, and where adaptations are needed. This will enable people living with dementia to continue to take part in everyday life in the way they want to.
- Support family, friends and carers
Being age and dementia friendly not only benefits older people or people living with dementia, but also their family, carers and friends. In fact it benefits everyone!
- Increase profits
There’s a great financial incentive to offering an age friendly service. By 2040, older people will be spending 63p in every pound spent in the UK economy, rising from 54p in 20181.
- Free publicity
Every organisation who signs up receives Age Friendly and Dementia Friendly window stickers and free publicity via Leeds Older People’s Forum and our partners! This includes featuring on our website’s searchable map, monthly newsletter and social media.
- Free staff training
Raise staff awareness, understanding and skills by accessing free sessions such as Dementia Friends and Wise Up to Ageism.
- Inspire customer loyalty
As people develop dementia they will do and spend less, unless businesses adapt to their needs. Research shows that 83% of people with memory problems have switched their shopping habits to places that are more accessible.2
- Connect and network with other like-minded businesses
All participating businesses will be invited to quarterly networking events where they can host a stall, network with others and access training opportunities.
- Help us to create a city for the future
Here in Leeds, like the rest of the UK, our population is not only growing but also ageing. Around one in three people in Leeds is aged 50+.3 The number of Leeds residents aged 80+ will increase by about 50% in the next 20 years.4 As our population ages, we need accessible and welcoming high streets for all of us.
Join Trinity Leeds, Abbey Grange Medical Practice, Horsforth Golf Club, Banyan Roundhay and 90 more businesses in Leeds!
Sign up to be an Age and Dementia Friendly business today!
For more information:
- visit Leeds Older People’s Forum’s website
- contact Sarah Prescott – Sarah@opforum.org.uk / 07871371803
Sarah Prescott
Friendly Communities Officer
1 Maximising the longevity dividend, ILC, 2019
2 Dementia Friendly Retail Guide, Alzheimer’s Society, 2018
3 ONS, mid-2020 Population Estimates
4 ONS, Population projections for local authorities: Table 2