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​Sainsbury’s Set To Install Dementia-Friendly Signs In All Its Stores' Toilets

​Sainsbury’s Set To Install Dementia-Friendly Signs In All Its Stores' Toilets

Fair play for decision that comes after a campaign by a woman whose late husband, Ted, had Alzheimer’s and struggled to find the exit.

Chris Ogden

Chris Ogden

Having a condition like dementia where your brain function slowly degrades over time can be really devastating to a person's dignity.

That's why it's great to hear that Sainsbury's has decided to make it easier for its customers by committing to install dementia-friendly signs in all its stores' toilets.

Sainsbury's is now working with the Alzheimer's Society to install 'Way out' signs to clearly mark the exit and help people with dementia find their way out of the loos. What a simple, effective idea. Good work, Sainsbury's.

Credit: SWNS

The decision comes after a campaign by a woman whose late husband, Ted, had Alzheimer's and saw how hard it was for him to remember where the exit was.

Ted sadly died at 75 years of age after fighting Alzheimer's since he was in his mid-50s.

"What a result!" said Ted's wife, Angela Clayton-Turner. "I have been talking about the difficulty my husband had finding his way out of public toilets, for some years.

"'When caring for Ted, I had to enter the men's loos more than I care to remember. Although he was able to use public toilets, he was unable to find his way out."

Angela has co-written an essay, published in the medical journal The Lancet back in August, outlining how difficult using public toilets can be for people with dementia.

The essay explains how poor design and signage can make it hard for dementia patients to use public toilets independently as they struggle to find their way out.

"'It affected my dignity going into male toilets," Angela added. "You go in with your hands over your eyes as you aren't quite sure what you are going to find in there.

"The whole dementia process hurt Ted's pride. You gradually find yourself unable to do all the things you once could do. So that is hard to come to terms with."

Credit: PA

The report outlines how many old people start to avoid everyday life due to a lack of, or inaccessibility, of public toilets.

Some of the day-to-day activities it says that people start to feel excluded from when they can't use a loo include travelling and even socialising with friends, leading them to become isolated.

It's easy to see how Sainsbury's new 'Way Out' signs won't just help people with dementia, but other people too - maybe those who've had a bit too much to drink.

So whenever you next find yourself in a Sainsbury's toilet, rest assured that you'll always be able to get back to your shopping.

Source: Metro

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, News, sainsbury's, Dementia