This in from Paula on behalf of Southern Vectis. Ed
Earlier this year, the bus operator introduced Safe Journey Cards, allowing people with memory loss to identify themselves to drivers at the start of their journey. In addition, Southern Vectis staff are now regularly trained by Age UK to make them aware of the unique needs of these customers.
The scheme has already won Southern Vectis praise after a driver paid extra special attention to a passenger who showed her card when boarding his bus.
Sue Pugh was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease five years ago. Since then she has avoided bus travel because she was anxious that she might forget her stop.
However, when she heard Southern Vectis was working with Age UK she decided to try out its services.
She boarded the Number 37 Southern Vectis service from Ryde to Haylands and showed her Safe Journey Card to driver Tony Senyszyn.
She said:
“I was reassured when he knew all about the card and we had a little chat. He made sure I knew which bus I was on and said that if I had any worries to let him know.
“When I got off, he waved and tooted, and made sure I was on my way. He was brilliant.”
Sue attends an Age UK memory group where friends have also shared their good stories about Southern Vectis services.
She said:
“Other people have told me about their experiences and they can’t fault the drivers. They really care. I’m quite happy to get on a bus now knowing that I’ll be looked after.”
Tony, who has worked for Southern Vectis for eight years, said:
“Many of my passengers are in their 80s or 90s, so I am very aware that they need some extra help. Any type of additional training to help us make people feel more comfortable is a great thing.”
Safe Journey Cards
Age UK Isle of Wight is working towards making the Island a dementia friendly community, and has established partnerships with businesses in Ryde and Newport to promote awareness. Southern Vectis has pledged its support through the Safe Journey Card, which is Island-wide, and distributed by Age UK through healthcare professionals.
The cards are printed with a range of messages about an individual’s needs, from ‘I’m visually impaired’ to ‘Please wait for me to sit down, in case I fall’.
Southern Vectis has also agreed to offer its Travel Shop’s at Newport and Ryde as a Safe Haven for people with dementia. This will be the Island’s second Safe Haven, designed as a place for people with memory loss to go if they are feeling lost or confused. The shop will display a ‘Dementia Friendly Isle of Wight’ sticker in the window and staff will receive dementia awareness training.
Emma Lincoln, Age UK Isle of Wight Health and Wellbeing Development Officer, said:
“We have built a great partnership with Southern Vectis over the last seven months. Their commitment, drive and practical support helps to build a dementia friendly community.
“By creating a dementia friendly Island we will be having a huge effect not only on the people with dementia but also their carer’s. Quality of life for everyone involved will be increased, and fear and denial reduced within the communities. We believe minimising stress on carers will help reduce medical costs for them, and also delay the costs relating to hospitalisation or nursing home care.
“This project is about a shift in cultural attitude, we ask people to ‘Stop, Think, Change’, which in time will create a Dementia Friendly Community.”
Safe Journey Cards are available from Age UK Isle of Wight and healthcare professionals.
