As we come to the end of a year that has again been extremely challenging, many families with loved ones who are living with dementia may be wondering what they can do to make a tangible difference to their relative’s…
Something to shout about for dementia carers
It’s often been said that knowledge is power, and I’ve always advocated that’s never been more true than for unpaid family carers. I’ve frequently thought it quite crazy that as a society we expect/accept/encourage family members, friends and neighbours to…
The unseen toll of worry
Earlier this month was World Mental Health Day, an awareness-raising event designed to increase the profile of looking after our mental health. I’m a firm believer that just as we all have physical health problems, either sporadically or continually, so mental…
Know a little more about dementia
The theme of this year’s World Alzheimer’s Month (or World Dementia Month as I prefer to call it) is #KnowDementia. The aim is to highlight the early signs and symptoms of dementia to enable people to get a more timely…
Supporting a person with dementia to keep busy
In the strange pandemic on/off lockdown world we’ve lived in for the past 18 months, maintaining focus on tasks and activities has, for many people, become really difficult. This isn’t a new feeling for many people with dementia, however, who…
Family reunions when a loved one has dementia
With the UK summertime in full swing and COVID restrictions having eased, many people are meeting up with friends and family who they haven’t seen for a long time. For most people these will be joyous, emotional reunions that are…
It’s time to change the record
Social media often gets a bad press, sometimes justifiably so, but it can be an amazing place to connect with people who share our views and experiences too. Something came my way last week that fits into that positive category…
Cure the care system? I wish
How ironic that in the week before Dementia Action Week, this year themed around social care reform, the latest Queen’s Speech yet again failed to provide detailed plans to address the issues that have plagued the care system for years.…
Making meaningful conversation
“When was the last time you really engaged with a person living with dementia?” This was a question I posed during a recent online training session I ran with a small group of social care staff. Some of the…
Regrets, I’ve had a few…
Listening to the radio recently, Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ came on. These two lines really stood out for me: “Regrets, I’ve had a few. But then again, too few to mention.” They got me thinking, as I so often do…
Intergenerational lessons from the (home education) classroom
I’m probably going to put myself into a very small group of parents with my opening comment for this blog, but I’m so glad I’ve had the chance to home school our daughter. Whilst I know many parents have struggled…
Five things I’m glad we bought my dad
A question I’m often asked is what would I recommend buying a person with dementia? This has become even more pertinent with so many family members unable to see relatives with dementia during the pandemic, and looking for ideas of…
Resolve to not put off until tomorrow what you can do today
As we come to the end of a year that I’m sure no one expected to turn out the way it has, most of us are probably feeling that our coping skills have been sorely tested. The exponential rise of…
