Halifax staff set example during Dementia Awareness Week

Angela Kelly, Business Manager at Halifax Bank, Rochdale

The Rochdale branch of Halifax Bank is to hold fund raising events in the banking hall, including a book sale, ‘guess how many sweets are in the jar’ and a large cake that will be up for grabs during Dementia Awareness Week.

Business Manager, Angela Kelly, said: “We have customers and colleagues who have family members who suffer from dementia and it’s just a nice thing to do.”

Patricia Campbell from Rochdale Mind praised the staff at Halifax saying: “They were fantastic, we delivered an information session to the team and many turned up early to become ‘dementia friends’ – they were really proactive’. Staff at Tesco, Middleton were equally praised by Patricia for their involvement in the campaign.

“There is fear and stigma surrounding the disease as people are reluctant to go to the doctors just in case they are diagnosed, but Patricia Campbell emphasises that the disease is manageable, she says, ‘you can live well with dementia’.”

Ms Campbell hopes local councillors get on board and become ‘dementia friends’ to show the country that Rochdale is a dementia friendly borough.

Public Health and Rochdale Mind will be holding a dementia information event on Thursday 19 May at Castlemere Community Centre from 10:30am to 2:00pm food will be provided.