Dementia Awareness Week

LONDON, July 7, 2010 - For this year's Dementia Awareness Week (4-10 July), journalist, author
and problem page editor, Virginia Ironside, is joining up with national care
provider, Barchester Healthcare, and Alzheimer's Society to launch some new
children's books!

'Visiting Grandad's new home' and 'Visiting Gran's new home' are
original, brand-new and beautifully illustrated books, written to explain to
a child what dementia is.

'Visiting Grandad's new home' and 'Visiting Gran's new home'
By Virginia Ironside

Why these books are important:

    - With an increasing older population, and more people experiencing
      dementia, we hope to educate children about this condition
    - The relationship between grandchild and grandparent is often a very
      special one and so it is important that children learn to understand
      the changes in a grandparent with dementia
    - Children's comprehension of dementia is often forgotten about when it
      comes to something like dementia; with the main priority being to
      care for the person with dementia.
    - Dementia care homes will look very different from anywhere that most
      children have been before - we hope to answer questions a child might
      have when visiting a dementia care home for the first time.

Virginia was approached by Barchester Healthcare to write these books.
Barchester is a major care provider and has more than 100 care homes called
Memory Lane Communities to take care of people who have dementia. The staff
at these homes found that families were struggling to explain to young
children what dementia is. Together they set about addressing this need.

About Virginia:

Virginia has been a journalist and problem page editor all her life. She
now writes a regular agony column for the Independent, and a column for the
Oldie. She's written several books, including seven for children. She has two
grandchildren.

About Barchester:

With the highest Care Quality Commission ratings of any major UK care
provider, Barchester Healthcare is recognised as the UK's largest quality
care provider

At Barchester Healthcare we pride ourselves on our specialist dementia
care. Our Memory Lane Communities are designed to encourage people with
dementia to stay as independent and active as possible. We understand that no
two people are the same and take a person-centred care approach, recognising
and celebrating each person's individuality.

Barchester employs almost 15,000 people to care for more than 10,000
residents at more than 220 locations in the UK.

Note to Editors:

A Picture accompanying this release is available through the PA
Photowire. It can be downloaded from www.pa-mediapoint.press.net
or viewed at www.mediapoint.press.net or www.prnewswire.co.uk

For more information, please call Aisling Kearney on +44(0)7824-898677 or
email aisling.kearney@barchester.com

For more information, please call Aisling Kearney on +44(0)7824-898677 or email aisling.kearney at barchester.com