Irelands first Dementia Inclusive Shopping Centre

Description

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland partnered with Mahon Point Shopping Centre in Cork to launch the first Dementia Inclusive Shopping Centre in Ireland . It is important to keep in mind that for individuals living with Dementia, their support networks extend beyond traditional villages, towns, and cities. These networks can also include shopping centres, community services, or national organisations.

In our efforts to raise awareness and provide education about Dementia, the ASI reached out to Mahon Point Shopping Centre in Cork City. The response we received was truly remarkable. This collaboration resulted in an incredible Launch event on November 14th, 2023. Cllr. Kieran McCarthy, Lord Mayor of Cork City, ASI clients and their families, and Mahon Point Shopping Centre retailers were all present.

After the launch event, a series of Dementia Induction training sessions were held for two days. These workshops were attended by over 70 staff members from different businesses and the management team of Mahon Point Shopping Centre.

Each month, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland clients from Bessboro Day Centre have the opportunity to visit Mahon Point Shopping Centre for a safe and enjoyable social outing. The retailers always extend a warm welcome, creating a fantastic sense of inclusion for our clients and their families.

The feedback from Carers of people living with Dementia has been amazing – they really feel like their loved one feels welcome to come and shop like anyone else

Aim of Initiative

The aim is to extend the Dementia Inclusive Community concept into a Shopping Centre. Shopping is something many people enjoy but it can be a very difficult experience for People living with Dementia and their Carer

Who is it aimed at

People living with Dementia their Family Members and Carers

3 Steps critical to success

1. Ensuring that we engaged with a suitable shopping centre that already prides itself on the wonderful experience they provide. The Operations Manager was a key driver of this programme – he could really see the benefit of it and very much wanted it to happen
2. Providing Dementia Awareness training to the staff of the centre is a vital component of the success. All management, security, customer service and cleaning staff have been trained. Each store had to also put staff members forward for the training. Dementia Inclusive status is only granted when every store and element of the shopping centre had completed the training
3. It is vitally important to ensure that People living with Dementia in the communities know about the shopping centre having become Dementia Inclusive so it was really important to spread the word. ASI did a huge media promo but also notified all their client in the area and indeed arrange visits from their Day Care Centre on a regular basis

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. To get the Shopping Centre onboard – it was a dream to do this but the Operations Manager Adam was a key person in making it happen once we got in contact with him
2. The biggest challenge was getting each of the individual stores involved. There are over 60 stores many of which are part of large chain stores that have very strict criteria around what their stores get involved in – however, every single store had people present at the training. Each store now proudly displays it Dementia Inclusive Community badge in its window – this in itself was a challenge as many store have a clear window policy whereby they cannot display any badges, signs etc
3. Maintaining the momentum. Retail is a very fast moving industry with high turnover rates however Mahon Point have signed up to twice yearly staff training to ensure consistency in Dementia Awareness knowledge

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. A Dementia inclusive Shopping Centre where everyone has an understanding of Dementia and have been trained to be extra vigilant and supportive of customers.
2. A much improved shopping experience for people living with Dementia , their family members and Carers. They can now enter the store knowing that there is help on hand and that people will have an understanding of their situation.
3. A wonderful partnership between ASI and Mahon Point Shopping Centre – our clients from Bessboro now regularly go over, have wonderful fun shopping experiences, wonderful tea days with singalongs. The Clients have gained so much from this experience and now love to shop again