{my}dentist announces new charity partnership with Dementia UK
NewsPosted by: Dental Design 14th April 2021
{my}dentist, the UK’s largest chain of dental practices, has announced Dementia UK as its new charity partner, following a staff poll.
Team members across the UK were given the choice of six charities, each with a link to oral health, and Dementia UK was the clear winner with more than a third of the vote. Practice staff and support colleagues will now aim to raise funds through individual and team challenges as well as learning from Dementia UK how best to care for patients with the condition.
Dementia is the UK’s biggest health issue and one of the leading causes of death in the country. It can have a devastating effect on a person’s everyday life, including their oral health. People living with dementia can struggle to perform daily activities, such as an oral hygiene routine, and individuals living with dementia often have a high rate of tooth decay and gum disease. This may be due to difficulty in remembering or performing daily activities like brushing the teeth, in addition to communication challenges which could make it difficult to express discomfort or pain.
Dementia UK is the only charity dedicated to supporting people with dementia and their families through their dementia specialist Admiral Nurses. When things get challenging or difficult for people with dementia and their families, Admiral Nurses work alongside them; giving compassionate one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions which can be hard to find elsewhere.
For every £230 raised, two families could be offered life-changing support for a day from a new Admiral Nurse.
{my}dentist hopes to work together with Dementia UK to provide hope for vulnerable families facing dementia by improving their quality of life, health and wellbeing.
Tom Riall, chief executive of {my}dentist, said: “Our practice teams come into contact with patients with dementia every day and see the amount of support necessary not only for the person with the condition, but for their families and carers.
“Dementia UK provides a vital lifeline and we hope to support both financially, to allow even more people to benefit, and practically by improving understanding of dementia and what we can all do to support our communities. I’m looking forward to seeing what fundraising activities our teams come up with.”
Paul Edwards, Director of Clinical Services at Dementia UK, said: “We are delighted to announce this partnership with {my}dentist. Prior to the pandemic, people with dementia were at increased risk of tooth decay and untreated gum diseases; these issues have now been compounded by people not being able to attend dental care check-ups during lockdown.
“This partnership will therefore allow us to support {my}dentist’s vital work with people with dementia. Their staff’s fundraising will also help us to be there for more people who need access to dementia specialist support.”
{my}dentist has set up a fundraising link for anyone who would like to donate to Dementia UK. Visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/MyDentist-supports-DUK
