The Alzheimer's Society and Bookies "Helping people with dementia to gamble."

[Mockerswithnoknockers]

.....Waaaaaaaaaaaat????

On R4 just now. AS not going to reconsider after criticism of this. They got £2M from William Hill in return for providing training to make betting shops 'a more welcoming environment' for people with dementia.

Waaaaaaaaaaaat????

Strangely all the William Hills round here seem to have closed down.
The Alzheimer's Society should be shut down for that

I’m seriously shocked at the Alzheimer’s Society. God knows people with dementia are vulnerable enough to financial abuse anyway, and to squandering their money very unwisely.

I’ve had cause to be grateful to the Alz. Soc. in the past, particularly for their carers’ forum, which has been a lifeline to me and many others, but this is beyond belief.

I can’t help wondering whether the people who’ve agreed this actually know much about dementia! So often people who pontificate or presume to advise about it, haven’t a fucking clue about what it so often actually means in practice.

wtf???
they are lining up with the 'African prince' style scam artists to siphon money out of vulnerable people

Is it April the 1st or something?
What on earth do the AS think they're doing?

I think they're being realistic- they know that people with dementia are already gambling. If staff who work in bookies can be trained to recognise and support someone with dementia to place bets responsibly, is that really such a bad thing? There are people living out there in communities who are still considered to have capacity and who may still get a lot of pleasure from placing bets, or going to the bookies might he part of their routine. That won't change because they've got dementia.

Just checked, and No, I wasn't dreaming:

www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/charity-wanted-betting-shops-to-be-safe-haven-for-dementia-patients-tckr9lw7s

Agree with @DeborahAnnabelToo

We need bookies onside and able to recognise dementia. Lots of people go in for a flutter and its important they are able to recognise when someone is vulnerable.

It’s very common in Dementia care homes for some of the men to make a trip out each day to the bookies, the benefits that gives much outweigh the couple of quid they’ll bet

If someone enjoyed putting a bet on before they got dementia there is no reason they should stop after diagnosis. I can't see how it's a bad thing for awareness to be made so if someone is clearly struggling, forgetting they've bet and returning to do it again or being financially abused.

You don't stop being you after a dementia diagnosis and it's a good thing for people to do what they enjoy for as long as they're able.

I was horrified by the headlines - and then thought it through.

My mum had dementia and she continued to do everything she always had - I couldn't imprison her. What was needed was someone to make sure she could still shop, buy from catalogues, go out, meet people - but safely. And betting small amounts - as opposed to gambling and becoming an addict - is something that a lot of people like to do.

Having someone in situ in the Betting Shop aware of the risks and able to stop it when it becomes problematic is a good thing.