Partnership formed to support customers with dementia

Bristol Water has joined forces with Wessex Water and Western Power Distribution to better support customers with dementia.

As part of the partnership, the utility companies have jointly funded 1,000 of Avon & Somerset Police’s new dementia wristbands and committed to better information sharing to improve the service to customers with dementia.

Sue Clarke, Head of Customer Experience at Bristol Water, said: “Avon & Somerset Police have developed a worthwhile initiative to help keep those safe who are vulnerable of going missing in the community, which we’re pleased to help fund.

“As well as this, customers with dementia enrolled onto the wristband scheme will be invited to join the Priority Services Registers of all three utility companies. Power and water outages can be stressful for those with dementia, and by being aware, we can adjust our services.”

Customer services teams across the utility companies have also undergone Dementia Friends training to better support customers with dementia.

The wristbands allow essential information about the wearer, such as next of kin, to be accessed by a mobile app when nearby. The wristbands are part of Avon & Somerset Police’s Dementia Safeguarding Scheme.

To sign up for a wrist band, visit the Avon & Somerset Police website here

To sign up for our Priority Services Register, or sign a relative up for one, visit our PSR page here