Bristol law firm Barcan+Kirby has given its support to an Alzheimer’s Society initiative to create ‘dementia-friendly’ communities and is now calling on other businesses in the region to do the same.
All Barcan+Kirby’s client-facing staff have had the opportunity to become ‘dementia friends’ by attending special sessions, meaning they understand what the condition is, how it affects people and how best to support people living with it.
Dementia-friend information sessions have now been included in the firm’s induction programme and will also be rolled out to new members of staff.
The firm has also produced ‘dementia-friendly’ versions of key pieces of its literature and is putting up clear signage in all its branches, including footsteps to mark routes to reception.
The Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friends programme supports the creation of dementia friendly communities that will help people living with dementia feel valued, understood and able to participate in everyday life.
Barcan+Kirby dementia friend champion Anna Molter – an associate solicitor at the firm – said: “This is something we feel very passionately about as a business, and as individuals. We are in a position of trust, and it’s important that we are able to accommodate the needs of our clients as fully as possible.
“We are an ageing population with ever evolving and changing needs and professional services firms such as ours need to react and adapt to this.
“We would like to see more local firms, including other professional services organisations, throw their support behind this and become dementia friends too.”
Barcan+Kirby, which has seven offices around Bristol and employs 140 staff, believes that providing dementia-friendly services will become progressively important as life expectancy continues to increase. The Alzheimer’s Society predicts that 1m people are expected to be living with dementia in the UK by 2025.
The firm has already passed on the benefit of its training by running a dementia friend session for employees at Bath-based financial advisors Hart Greaves.
Partner Ken Hart said: “Dementia is a growing area of concern for more and more of our clients. We felt strongly about the need to educate ourselves in order to understand how we can offer the best possible service to all of our clients.
“We are grateful to Anna and Barcan+Kirby for running our dementia friend session and will be making some changes to our own business as a result. We would also like to join them in urging other businesses to get on board with this extremely worthwhile initiative.”
Barcan+Kirby has also carried out some research which suggests that people aren’t facing up to the realities of future care, with only one in 10 in the South West having a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place.
LPAs are a way of giving someone you trust the legal authority to make decisions on your behalf if you reach a point where you are unable to do so or no longer wish to make decisions for yourself.
Anna said: “This situation means that we are increasingly likely to be working for clients that have dementia and who may not have a relative to advocate for them. And, of course, there will be people who simply feel more comfortable dealing with private matters directly with their solicitor.
“It’s our duty to do all we can to support people and ensure they can access our services with confidence and dignity.”
Barcan+Kirby is now a member of Bristol Dementia Action Alliance (BDAA) and is supporting South Gloucestershire Action Alliance Group.
Bristol Dementia Action Alliance chair Tony Hall said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Barcan+Kirby are putting their weight behind this vitally important initiative which is already helping to make a huge difference to people with dementia and their families.
“They are also enthusiastic supporters of the work we are doing in Bristol. With their help and that of other organisations and businesses across the city we hope to achieve our ambition of making Bristol the most dementia-friendly city in the UK.”
To find out more about becoming a Dementia Friend visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk or www.bristoldaa.co.uk
Pictured: Anna Moulter, Barcan+Kirby dementia friends champion – third from left – with colleagues showing the red footsteps leading to reception at the Queen Square office
