STRETFORD and Urmston MP Kate Green has called on businesses to undertake dementia training.

Ms Green joined a group of MPs and peers from across the country to take part in a Dementia Friends training session in Parliament, where she learnt about the effect of dementia on people’s everyday lives, and the steps we can all take to support those living with dementia.

Dementia Friends was launched in February 2013 by the Alzheimer’s Society. The initiative aims to help people understand what it might be like to live with dementia and turn that understanding into action.

Age UK has already carried out some very effective dementia training in businesses and shops in Urmston. The Alzheimer’s Society are keen to see the training offered in other parts of Trafford.

Alzheimer’s Society is aiming to have one million Dementia Friends by 2015, to help make England more dementia-friendly and improve the lives of the 650,000 people currently living with the condition.

Ms Green said: “The Dementia Friends training session was one of the most interesting sessions I’ve participated in since I entered Parliament.

“The training was a real eye-opener - useful, practical and very worthwhile.

“With a growing number of people living with dementia, it's more important than ever that we all have a better understanding of the condition. I hope that businesses will support my call to have their staff take part in dementia training. “ Jeremy Hughes, chief executive at the Alzheimer’s Society, said, “Most people don’t know enough about dementia and Dementia Friends is the perfect opportunity to be able to invite everyone to improve their knowledge.”