Dumbarton’s Pets at Home store has partnered with the UK’s leading dementia charity to improve the instore experience for customers living with dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Society’s ‘Dementia Friends’ programme is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia, and aims to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about this condition.

All Pets at Home, Groom Room, and Vets4Pets, colleagues at the Dumbarton store will become Dementia Friends to help better assist customers who may be living with dementia, and will have the knowledge and confidence to approach and help customers who are shopping by themselves or with a loved one.

All future Pets at Home employees will become Dementia Friends as standard during their induction programme, marking the retailer’s long-term commitment to supporting customers with the condition.

Store manager, Henry Cassidy, says: “Our teams always do their best to offer friendly expertise and advice to customers.

“Following the Dementia Friends training, our team will be confident in recognising the signs of the condition, and we really hope that customers and families who are affected by dementia will feel welcomed and comfortable whilst shopping in our store.”

Claire Jenkins, Head of Community Engagement at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “It’s fantastic that Pets at Home has committed to the action of supporting their colleagues to become Dementia Friends and it’s a perfect way to mark Dementia Action Week. We hope this encourages other retailers in the UK to do the same.”