Clydebank dentists to become 'dementia friends' to support community

Clyde Dental Practice, on Kilbowie Road, is supporting Alzheimer Scotland by becoming Dementia Friends, to help encourage Scotland to ‘see the person behind the diagnosis’.

During Dementia Awareness Week from May 29 until June 4, all staff members will be provided access to the specialist initiative which ensures people living with dementia are supported in the local community and continue to access much-needed oral healthcare.    

A number of clinical and support staff at the practice are Dementia Friends trained through an official partnership with Alzheimer Scotland. The on-site team have received specialist training and information about dementia and the varying ways it can affect an individual.       

Measures that each practice has implemented to support people living with dementia include reassuring patients and making them comfortable within the practice, communicating in an accessible, jargon-free way, encouraging family members to attend appointments if preferable and encouraging self-directed care and decision-making.  

Dentists in Clydebank are being trained to become Dementia Friends (Image: Clyde Munro)

George Welsh, associate dentist at Clyde Dental Practice, said: “As part of our commitment to providing sector-leading care at community level, we have partnered with Alzheimer Scotland to ensure all of our patient-facing team members are ‘Dementia Friends’.  

“From the moment an appointment is required, through to the dental care they receive, communication with the patient and everything in between – we have a range of considerations that we take into account to ensure that patient is cared for appropriately.”   

Fiona Wood, chief operations officer, Clyde Munro said: “We have over 1,000 people who are Dementia Friends. It’s imperative to the protection of accessible oral healthcare that we are appropriately trained at every local practice to support our patients living with dementia - and their families - in accessing dental care. 

“We are incredibly proud of the partnership we have with Alzheimer Scotland and believe our role extends beyond the walls of our practices, we want to support people in their communities, at a local level, and being Dementia Friends allows us to do this.”