Making the South Lakes More Dementia-Friendly

This programme brings together local businesses, community groups and members of the public to build greater understanding, confidence and compassion when supporting people living with dementia.

Dementia affects so many families in our area. In Cumbria alone, more than 7,700 people are currently living with dementia, and this number is expected to rise in the coming years. Behind every statistic is a person, a family and a story – and we believe our community has a vital role to play in helping people live well with dementia.

Our Commitment to Dementia Care

This initiative builds on our long-standing commitment to dementia care. Alongside our annual Dementia Awareness Day, we provide specialist dementia training for our Care Professionals and deliver tailored community sessions across the region.

Most recently, we’ve been working closely with local solicitors and frontline businesses to deliver dementia-specific training, including sessions for Thomson Hayton Winkley, Temple Heelis, Milne Moser, Holdens, and Rathbones Investment Company. These sessions are designed to help staff feel more confident and equipped when supporting clients and customers who may be living with dementia.

To recognise organisations that complete the training, we now issue “Dementia Aware” certificates, window stickers and staff badges. These help members of the public easily identify businesses that are understanding, supportive and dementia-friendly throughout the South Lakes.

If your business would like to receive a bespoke dementia session to better equip your team, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact us on 01539 267220.

Small Changes, Big Difference

“We want everyone living with dementia in our community to feel understood, safe and supported wherever they go,” says Rachel Sanders, Operations Manager. “Small changes can make a big difference.”

Each training session is tailored to the business and delivered by our Dementia Champion Shaun, who is also a Care Professional, alongside Andrea, our Community Engagement Lead. Together, they share practical tools to improve understanding, communication and compassionate support.

Shaun has a real passion for supporting people living with dementia and those who care for them. Having worked closely with clients for almost six years throughout their dementia journey, he understands that every individual’s experience is unique. This real-life insight is at the heart of every session we deliver.

What Local Businesses Are Saying

We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive feedback from organisations who have taken part in our training:

  • Thomson Hayton Winkley: “Eye-opening and practical advice.”

  • Temple Heelis: “Very informative and helpful.”

  • Milne Moser: “One of the best sessions we have received.”

  • Holdens: “A big thank you to Andrea and Shaun! A great update.”

Join Our Community Talk: Understanding Dementia

We’re also excited to invite the community to our next Community Talk – Understanding Dementia.

Join us at Stonecross Manor on Wednesday 18th March, for a supportive and informative session led by our Dementia Champion Shaun. Two sessions are available: 10am–12pm or 5.30pm–7.30pm.

During the session, we’ll cover:

  • What dementia is and how it affects individuals

  • Practical communication tips

  • Real-life insight and guidance

  • An interactive Q&A with Shaun

This is a free event, with refreshments included. Spaces are limited, so we kindly ask that you book using this link: Understanding Dementia – A Community Awareness Talk Tickets, Stonecross Manor, Kendal | TryBooking United Kingdom

Supporting People to Live Well With Dementia

Alongside our community work, we also provide bespoke dementia training for all our Care Professionals, ensuring they are fully equipped to support people living with dementia in their own homes – with dignity, understanding and compassion.

If you’d like to find out more, register your interest in a dementia awareness session, or learn how we can support your loved one to live well with dementia, please call our friendly team on 01539 267220. We’re always happy to help.