Pharmacy staff help boost dementia awareness

IMG_0722Staff and volunteers at Well pharmacy in Northenden came together to provide advice to those living with dementia; their carers; and those concerned about dementia in their family.

Pharmacist, Usman Aslam, and Alzheimer’s Society support worker, Julia Collins, from Manchester, were on hand to provide expert advice around the life-changing condition.

Julia’s expertise enabled staff and visitors to obtain further advice and information about how people can help those with dementia, and those who care for them.

The in-store event is part of a series of initiatives by Well pharmacy designed to raise awareness of dementia, including fundraising activity for the charity.

This follows the announcement last year, that for the first time, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are the leading cause of death for England and Wales.

Mr Aslam, pharmacist branch manager at Well Northenden, said: “The team provides support every day in our local community through one-to-one advice and private consultations, helping people to live well with dementia.

“We offer practical assistance with dementia medication, including ordering and collecting prescriptions from GP practices and delivering medicines to elderly people’s homes if they are unable to get to the pharmacy. We also help people to manage their medicine usage and dosage to ensure they are managing their condition well.

“With Julia’s assistance, we opened our doors to invite local residents in to talk to us about how we can support our ageing community members.”

The event was attended by dozens of people, with many sharing their own experiences and challenges of living with dementia.

Julia Collins, Alzheimer’s Society’s dementia support worker for Manchester, said: “It was a pleasure to be invited to work with Well pharmacy to deliver today’s event in Northenden, as it gave me the opportunity to speak directly to members of the community who are impacted by dementia.”

To get advice, share experiences and connect with the Alzheimer’s Society, visit https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/.

 

To find your nearest Well store and to speak to your local pharmacist, visit www.well.co.uk/Pharmacy-Finder.

Leave a Reply