Priory Adult Care (formerly Amore Care) homes across the country are taking part in an innovative project to help young children come to terms with, and enjoy, visiting elderly relatives living in care homes.

All the homes will take delivery of a unique book ‘When I visit Granny Jean’  written by Elizabeth Maltman for her own children when their beloved Granny Jean moved into a care home.

The easy to read, fun book is beautifully illustrated by Amy Devlin and contains suggested ways to interact with residents and simple activities. The theme is ‘Granny will always be Granny even if she doesn’t remember.’

Each home will share the book with young visitors and their families to take away any fear or worry they might be feeling when a beloved relative has dementia.

The initiative is part of Priory Adult Care’s (formerly Amore Care) Dementia Strategy. The focus of the strategy is on individualised dementia care and community involvement to place the care homes at the heart of their local communities. Family and friends of residents are supported to embrace the ethos and encouraged to participate in the planning of care and become actively involved in the home’s activities.

Janette Malham, managing director of Amore Care, said: “The book demonstrates our commitment to helping our younger visitors understand dementia and pro actively encourages inter generational work.

“It can be daunting when someone who has played a large part in a child’s life is diagnosed with dementia and the book, written from a youngster’s perspective, aims to make visiting fun rather than a chore.”

For more information on the specialist services Priory Adult Care can offer, please call the enquiries and referrals team on 0808 208 2147 or click here to make an enquiry.