Cork’s first ‘dementia-friendly’ credit union in Mitchelstown

MITCHELSTOWN Credit Union is one of Cork’s first official ‘dementia friendly credit unions’.

In partnership with Home Instead Senior Care, Mitchelstown Credit Union has been working to deliver awareness-raising and information resources to branch colleagues, which will help them provide a more dementia friendly service to people with dementia, their families and carers.

Speaking about the initiative, Dermot Long of the local credit union said: “We have found this training to be really useful, and would encourage other businesses and organisations to consider undertaking a dementia friendly training programme to help make our community a more age-friendly one”.

Mick O’Driscoll, Owner and Managing Director of Home Instead Senior Care in Cork said: “Managing finances is a major concern for people with dementia and their families. Mitchelstown Credit Union is setting a standard in customer service by ensuring staff are trained to understand and communicate with customers with dementia.

“It is encouraging for families to see the credit union take the lead, and I hope it encourages more businesses in the local community to become dementia friendly”.

Following the completion of Home Instead Senior Care’s dementia training programme, the Mitchelstown Credit Union displays a ‘Dementia Friendly’ window sticker. This lets people in the community know that their local union is committed to delivering dementia friendly banking and that they will receive a professional and caring service from employees.