DEMENTIA Friendly Prestwick recently launched its audit video to local businesses.

The video, displayed at the Aviator Suite at Prestwick Airport on Thursday, September 28, demonstrated how local shops and businesses can make everyday tasks easier for those living with dementia.

With Prestwick Airport leading the way in making themselves a dementia friendly airport, the video was made to provide examples of what is already in place within the airport that is good for those living with dementia and what could be improved.

For example, the airport showed flooring on the video, where the colour contrasted from cream flooring onto a dark carpet which is perfect for those with the condition as it would not be confusing for them.

Jim Baird, locality manager for Alzheimer’s Scotland, said: “Dementia friendly communities are not just a push in the door, the door is wide open.

"What we put into it, is the awareness and training. A properly dementia friendly community is something where the taxi driver, ticket inspectors and shop keepers and business owners are all aware of the condition and are aware of what they can do.

“We are now getting more involved in dementia friendly design which is where the idea for the video came from. 

“We were given funding for the video and we instantly realised that this is a much more accessible way for the business community in any town to be able to see what was good, what was bad and how they can improve things. But what we needed was a site to show good practise and how things could be improved.

“What we really hope from this that having seen the video, a business will then look at its set up and make some small or big changes, if appropriate, and we hope that they will then video those changes with a voice over and upload it onto our Facebook page so that we end up with a community library of dementia friendly locations.

“This would then allow communities to feel comfortable about accessing the businesses and the page remains linked into shops, bars and pubs throughout Prestwick.

“We have had great discussions with Prestwick Airport about small bits of technology that we can put in the airport. It has thrown up very interesting conversations about the airport with security, with GPS trackers that people with dementia might be travelling with and in the fullness of time, dementia dogs that people will be travelling with.”

Cllr Hugh Hunter, added: “To me, making Prestwick Airport dementia friendly, it means we are making great inroads into making the awareness of living with dementia in Prestwick and other areas across the whole of Scotland.

“Our strap line is if we get it right for people living with dementia, we get it right for everyone and we also want Prestwick to be an exemplar of people seeing what is happening here and then they can do that with their own towns.

“There is Dementia Friendly Troon and other groups launching in Maybole, Girvan and Ayr which is absolutely fabulous and we are fully supportive.

“The vision is not about Prestwick, but for people living with dementia and them actually living and being valued in the community. I am hoping this will be an inspiration for other businesses.

“There is still a long way to go but the more support we get the better. Ideally, we would like every single person in Prestwick to be a dementia friend – how fabulous would that be? It is a big task but we will get there.”