School children given lessons on dementia

School children in Gloucestershire have been given lessons on how to spot the signs of dementia.

As part of the government's Challenge on Dementia campaign, four schools and one college in the south western county have been hosting workshops and practical classes on the condition.

Year 8 pupils at Newent Community School were also visited by a dementia education nurse, a retired general practitioner (GP), a dementia specialist and a support worker from the Gloucestershire branch of the Alzheimer's Society.

12-year-old Kirsty Ball, whose grandfather has dementia, told the Gloucester Citizen: "We have been told how to react if we are out in certain situations and old people are confused or do things that are out of character".

Andrew Gravells, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Gloucestershire County Council, added it is "fantastic" to see that children in the county are helping to "improve the lives of vulnerable people".

Read more about Barchester's dementia care homes