Staff from Santander International are now officially Dementia Friends following training by Alzheimer’s Society Isle of Man.

Across two sessions 23 members of the team based at Prospect Hill, Douglas, were helped to understand what it’s like to live with dementia and how they can help customers who live with this condition when they visit the branch.

The Dementia Friends initiative aims to educate people and show how they can help in small ways, with the message that every action counts.

Susan Walker from Alzheimer’s Society Isle of Man, who ran the course, said: ’I was delighted to be welcomed by the team at Santander International.

’Living with dementia can be very scary and accessing normal day-to-day services, such as visiting the bank, can be daunting.

’Training sessions like this give staff the confidence, knowledge and empathy to be able to better help these customers and thus gives the person with dementia a better experience.’

Lynne Corlett, HR manager at Santander International, said: ’Most of us know someone who has been touched by dementia and so have an idea of the difficulties they face every day, and the sessions enabled the team to be able to understand the challenges more fully.

’Importantly, it gives teams on the phones and in the branch the skills to better help customers who have dementia.’

Alzheimer’s Society Isle of Man runs Dementia Friend sessions for businesses and community groups around the island. For more information about becoming a Dementia Friend contact Susan Walker on 346794.