DEMENTIA friendly benches could become a prominent feature along Girvan’s shore front.

The project, which involves making the seats colourful, is being developed by the Girvan Youth Trust which has a charity shop in the town. 

All proceeds from the shop go directly towards helping and supporting young people in our local area of Girvan and South Carrick.

Chic Martindale, Project Co-ordinator, said: “The dementia friendly benches are a work in progress. They will be colourful as those living with the conditions cannot see the black bench as they appear as holes.

“Making them more colourful will also make them more friendly and cheerful. They will initially be along the sea front but if that takes off we would be quite open to other projects which benefit Girvan residents.

“There could quite possibly be colourful benches in the town.”

Some people with dementia may encounter problems with their sight – in some cases, this includes having hallucinations.

It is important to give the appropriate help, support and reassurance to make sure those living with dementia feel safe. This is especially a main at a time when the way they perceive the world around them may be changing.

Those with the illness can experience misperceptions where the person sees one thing as something else, for example, mistaking a coat hanging up for a person, or a blue coloured floor as water.

Misidentifications cause damage to specific parts of the brain which can lead to problems identifying specific objects and people.

Chic continued: “We have been given the go ahead to start looking at costs. As soon as we can secure funding we can just go for it.”
Although there is no specific time scale, it is hoped these benches can be in place next year.