Families of people living with dementia were given the chance to get advice on caring for loved ones with the condition, as part of a free workshop from Sandstone Care Group.

The event, which was held at Priesty Fields Care Home this week, offered local people the opportunity to learn more about the disease and how to support family or friends through a diagnosis.

Part of a series of workshops taking place across care homes run by Sandstone, it comes as Priesty Fields launches a dedicated 14-bed suite for residents with dementia.

Jay Chaplin, Regional Training and Development Manager at Sandstone Care Group, ran today's four-hour session.

She said: "Receiving a dementia diagnosis can be devastating for both the individual affected and their loved ones. It is often a brand-new concept for many families and can be a daunting prospect to have to deal with.

"That's why we want to lend a hand to those trying to understand the condition and, importantly, help them give the best possible support to their loved one.

"We understand that no two people will deal with a dementia diagnosis in the same way, so our workshops offer guidance that applies to a wide audience to help them to start to cope more effectively."

As part of the workshop, attendees took a tour of the care home and its facilities, which include a cinema room, a hair and beauty salon, library, spa, corner shop, launderette and spacious lounges, plus 78 bedrooms with en-suite wet rooms.

Gill Williams, Home Manager for Priesty Fields Care Home, said: "Seeing a loved one show signs of dementia is never easy, so we were pleased to invite the local community to our workshop to help empower them to tackle any challenges they may face.

"It was great to give everyone a tour of the facilities at Priesty Fields, which is now able to support families through the provision of person-centred, compassionate dementia care, as we open the top floor of our home to new residents.

"We're looking forward to extending our support to more families in the area and welcoming new residents into our community at Priesty Fields."

Click on the red link in this sentence to find more about Priesty Fields.