A new app is set to help thousands of people with dementia and their carers navigate their way around Salford.
The Salford Way dementia app has been designed by Salford CVS to provide a guide to shops, services and businesses in the city that are dementia-friendly.
The app is accessible on IOS (Apple) and android platforms and can be downloaded for free by people with dementia, their carers, friends and family to know which organisations within Salford welcome people with dementia and have an understanding of the disease.
Now people with dementia and their carers, including Tony and Joy Watson, from Eccles, are encouraging businesses to sign-up to the app.
Joy, who is 57 years old, and is living with young-onset Alzheimer’s, said: “The Salford Way dementia app is a great idea and we want to encourage as many businesses as possible to sign up and show that they are committed to becoming a part of a dementia-friendly Salford to help me and the thousands of other people in the city live well with the disease.”
Each service or business can register for free and get its own information page with the organisations logo, as well as the option to list opening times, contact details, a map and directions.
Lesmond Taylor, from Salford CVS, who is leading the development on the Salford Way dementia app, said: “More than 2,250 people are living with dementia across Salford and this app will help those people, along with their carers and extended family and friends to find dementia-friendly services from bars and restaurants, to medical and health services, transport and much more.
“It is also an exciting opportunity for businesses across Salford to promote their services on the app for free, showing they are welcoming to all and supporting Salford to become a dementia-friendly city.”
The Salford Way dementia app was funded by the NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) innovation fund.
Dr Jenny Walton, clinical lead for older people at Salford CCG, said:
“Salford is a leading light in the country in its support of people living with dementia, not just in how we support our residents but also how we’ve embraced innovation and technology.
“The Salford Way dementia app is the latest innovation that the city can be proud of and will go further to establish ourselves as a truly dementia friendly city.”
The app will be demonstrated at venues across Salford during Dementia Awareness Week, which runs from May 15 – 21 to show people with dementia how it works and encouraging businesses across Salford to sign up.
The first event will be on Monday, May 16, at The Lighthouse, 12 Centenary Park, Coronet Way, Eccles, M50 1RE, between 10am and 3pm.
And on Friday, May 20, at the Humphrey Booth Resource Centre, 16 – 18 Worsley Road, M27 5WW, from 10am until 2pm.
If any business is interested in learning more about how to sign up contact Lesmond Taylor for further information on 0161 787 7795 or email lesmond.taylor@salfordcvs.co.uk.
