September 2023 PayPlan Blog

Raising awareness of World Alzheimer’s Month

This month we are recognising that September is World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, with World Alzheimer’s Day taking place on the 21st September. World Alzheimer’s Day is a global opportunity to raise awareness around, educate, encourage support of and demystify dementia.  

What is Alzheimer’s Disease? 

Alzheimer’s disease is a physical illness which damages a person’s brain. This eventually causes dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease affects everyone differently. However, it has some common early symptoms:

• memory problems
• thinking and reasoning difficulties
• language problems
• changes to how they see and hear things
• changes in mood

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease will get worse over time. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, a person will need increasing support with everyday living.

How can you support World Alzheimer’s Day?

There are many ways to get involved:

• Join the conversation on social media and share your support on the 21st September by using the hashtag #WorldAlzheimersDay
• Volunteer at a local Memory Walk
• Plan or join in a fundraising event
• Make a donation of your time and provide help and support to people living with dementia
• Spread the message to your network

Why is World Alzheimer’s Day important to support?

It is thought nearly 50 million people live with dementia worldwide, being one of the biggest challenges we face globally. To help tackle the challenge and support those with dementia we all need to work together to share awareness. 

How do PayPlan support clients with Alzheimer’s and Dementia?

Our dedicated vulnerable team has grown over recent years to ensure that our particularly vulnerable clients receive appropriate support.

By going further than standard requirements, PayPlan is now a recognised leader in its offering for vulnerable clients. This is demonstrated by our internal and external training programmes, dedicated vulnerable client team and by partnering with experts.  It’s important that each person who seeks debt advice from us receives compassionate support and those with extra needs are identified quickly to receive appropriate adjustments.

For clients we believe or know may be suffering with Alzheimer’s or Dementia we have introduced the BRUCE model, which is used to help identify any support needs the clients may have in relation to remembering, understanding, communicating and evaluating (weighing-up) any information shared or making a decision based upon this.

BRUCE stands for;

• Behaviour and talk
• Remembering
• Understanding
• Communicating
• Evaluation

We always ensure our team are asking questions to check clients have understood the information and we can communicate through a third party to support client if needed. All communication we send out is in a form that the client will understand. 

What you can do next

If you are struggling with debts call us on 0800 072 1206.  We’re open from 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am – 3pm on Saturdays.

Alternatively, you can visit our www.payplan.com/bfawu to speak to us via live chat or for more information.