ELEVEN businesspeople from Crediton have become "Dementia Friends" as part of the campaign by the newly-formed Crediton Dementia Alliance, which is working towards the town becoming a dementia-friendly community.

The group received their training in dementia awareness from retired computer training consultant Marion Pollinger, of Crediton, at a session on Monday evening at Club Crediton in Searle Street.

Marion is a volunteer Dementia Champion with the Alzheimer's Society, who was herself trained in dementia awareness with the society's new Devon service earlier this year.

She has already held dementia-awareness sessions across the county for a range of organisations, including charities, care homes and the police.

She is now using her professional skills as a volunteer with the Alliance, taking her experience out to businesses in Crediton, as well as interested members of the public.

"So far this year, the most challenging and exciting series has been with the communications team at Devon and Cornwall Police headquarters at Middlemoor in Exeter," said Marion.

"The difficulties of answering 999 calls from a person with dementia need a very different kind of patience and understanding.

"It is really good to learn about other people's experiences with dementia and to be in a position to give some kind of understanding of what is happening and how to recognise potential problems as the dementia progresses. Every person is different and the challenges faced are never easy."

Each session lasts about an hour and a quarter, depending on how much discussion takes place. They give a basic understanding of the main types of dementia, its effects and how memory works.

"Just as important, the sessions will also show you the symptoms of dementia, the small things that you can do to make a difference to people living with dementia, and how to communicate with them," added Marion.

"Afterwards, all participants will be entitled to become a 'Dementia Friend' as part of the Prime Minister's initiative: http://www.dementiafriends.org.uk">www.dementiafriends.org.uk .

"Any businesses that attend will also be entitled to display the Purple Angel to indicate to the passing public that they are dementia aware."

Simon Lee of A E Lee Outfitters, High Street, Crediton, said he attended the dementia awareness course, which was held at Club Crediton, Searle Street, because he sometimes has customers call at his shop who he believed could have dementia.

"I feel it is important for local businesses and shops to be involved," he said.

Carol Hewings of Crediton Complementary Health Centre, said: "It was a very worthwhile course and I would recommend it to anyone.

"It helped to increase our awareness of dementia and the sort of things we can do to make our centre a comfortable environment for people with dementia."

Further dementia-awareness sessions are to be held on Tuesday, November 12 at 4.30pm and Monday, November 18 at 6pm at Club Crediton; and on Wednesday, November 27 at 6pm at the Boniface Centre in Church Lane, Crediton.

To book on one of these sessions please go to the Dementia Friends' website and search for Crediton, or contact Marion on 01363 777894 or email: [email protected]">[email protected] .

The Crediton Dementia Alliance was launched in September to take up the challenge of increasing the awareness and understanding of dementia and to remove its stigma.

It is made up of members of the Crediton and District branch of Devon Senior Voice, the town's two Rotary Clubs, together with Alzheimer's Society volunteers and other community representatives.