Local care home helps to change perception of dementia

Dementia Awareness Week, 18 to 24 May

This week a local care home is using a national awareness campaign to send out a reassuring message to people worried about dementia – that it is possible to live well with dementia.

Throughout Dementia Awareness Week, which runs from 18 to 24 May, Cedars Care Centre in New Barnet is focussed on helping people understand dementia and how to participate and still enjoy everyday life while living with the illness.

“Dementia is one of people’s biggest health concerns, they see it as a death sentence but it’s not. We want to help break down the stigma associated with dementia and show people that if you take a positive approach to the illness you can live well with dementia,” says Fran Walsh, manager of Cedars.

Members of the public who want to find out more about dementia and how they can best support relatives, friends or themselves, be it in a care home or in the community, are welcome to visit any time, with no appointment necessary.

“There can be very few people who don’t have friends or family who have been touched by dementia, and yet it is quite remarkable how little people know about making life easier for those living with the condition. We hope that friends, family and members of the public will come along to see best practice in operation during Dementia Awareness Week,” says Fran.

Cedars is a traditional house with a modern extension which offers 24-hour residential care for those aged 65 and over. The 40 rooms offer accommodation for residents, whether they be frail, suffering a long term illness and approaching end of life or just needs some respite care for themselves and their families. Cedars is part of the Forest Healthcare group of homes, which includes 13 individual homes throughout the South East of England. For more information on Cedars, please visit www.foresthc.com or call 0208 364 8839.

ENDS

For further media information or photographs, please contact:

Samantha Orange or Jay Commins

Pyper York Limited

Tel:         01904 500698

Email:    jay@pyperyork.co.uk or sam@pyperyork.co.uk