Burnett Barker Solicitors, based in Bury St Edmunds, has pledged that all of its staff - both solicitors and support staff - will undergo dementia friendly training.

Burnett Barker Solicitors, based in Bury St Edmunds, has pledged that all of its staff - both solicitors and support staff - will undergo dementia friendly training this year in a bid to increase understanding of the condition.

There are many myths surrounding dementia, and the lack of understanding of what it is and how people with dementia should be treated throughout every-day life, can contribute greatly to the feelings of distress and discomfort they experience.

As a law firm which deals with people from all walks of life, including many elderly people, Burnett Barker Solicitors has identified a need to educate all staff, not just those who deal directly with clients, on the symptoms and impact of dementia.

Partnering with local charity Gatehouse, also based in Bury St Edmunds, Burnett Barker will be establishing a number of mandatory information sessions over the summer of 2018, designed to educate staff on dementia and the small ways in which they, as individuals and as a firm, can help lessen the stress and impact of the disease.

Daryl Griffiths, CEO Burnett Barker Solicitors said:“It’s important for all of us to understand what dementia is and the varying forms it can take, so that we can all do our bit in helping to increase understanding of diseases such as Alzhemiers, Huntingdon’s and Parkinson’s disease dementia.”

“Many of our clients will be of an age where dementia is assumed as something that ‘just happens’ to people when they get old, however this is simply not the case. Training of this nature is therefore hugely important for individuals, organisations and local communities to learn how the daily lives of people with dementia can be affected, and what they can ‘do’ to help lessen the impact.”

Elaine Channen, dementia hub facilitator at Gatehouse, added:“Being dementia-friendly doesn’t have to mean making dramatic changes or going out of your way to ‘do things’ for people with dementia - it’s the small, everyday considerations that make a difference - ensuring that the society we all live in is inclusive to all. We are so pleased that organisations such as Burnett Barker are making training like this a priority, and look forward to meeting all of their staff in due course.”

The training will focus on educating staff on the various causes of dementia alongside developing an understanding of how people with dementia feel, think and behave - and how small changes in attitude and behaviour can make a big difference to their lives.