Caithness dental practices taking part in initiative to help people living with dementia
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TWO dental practices in Caithness are among seven in the Highlands which are taking part in a nationally-recognised initiative to help people living with dementia.
The Bridgend Health Care Centre in Thurso and the Thurso Dental Clinic are supporting Alzheimer Scotland by becoming Dementia Friends, in a bid to raise awareness of the disease and to encourage Scotland to "see the person behind the diagnosis". Other practices in Invergordon, Dingwall, Elgin, Fort William, Ballachulish, are also involved in the scheme which reassures patients and makes them comfortable within the practice, communicating in an accessible, jargon-free way, encouraging family members to attend appointments and encouraging self-directed care and decision making.
Clinical and support staff at the practices are Dementia Friends trained through an official partnership with Alzheimer Scotland. The on-site team has received specialist training and information about dementia and the varying ways it can affect an individual.
Fiona Wood, chief operations officer at Clyde Munro, which includes the Thurso Dental Clinic, said: "We have
over 1,000 people who are now Dementia Friends. It’s imperative to the protection of accessible oral healthcare that we are appropriately trained at every local practice to support our patients living with dementia – and their families – in accessing dental care.
"We are incredibly proud of the partnership we have with Alzheimer Scotland and believe our role extends beyond the walls of our practices. We want to support people in their communities, at a local level, and being Dementia Friends allows us to do this.”
The dental group operates across Scotland providing routine and specialist dental services for NHS and private patients. It employs over 250 clinicians and 600 support staff.
The seven Highland practices will be highlighting their support for people with the condition during Dementia Awareness Week which got underway on Monday and finishes on Sunday.
