Many people find me and my work through searching for individuals with experiences of caring. I’ve always been passionate about sharing what we went through with my dad to help others, mindful that when my dad was alive we never…
Tag: families
10 years of D4Dementia… and 10 years for my dad’s dementia diagnosis
Today marks the 10-year anniversary of my D4Dementia blog. I’m not quite sure where those 10 years have gone, but this is my 270th post with the topics covered ranging from pre-diagnosis to end-of-life care and (almost) everything in-between. I’m…
I love you and I miss you dad
I’m not sure I can quite believe my dad died 10 years ago today. I have no idea where those 10 years have gone. So much in my life has changed, and yet I remember so vividly – like it…
Live in the moment
I’m often asked for my advice, as a former carer to my dad, for families with loved ones who have dementia now. The most recent example of this was my guest appearance on Pippa Kelly’s ‘Well I Know Now…’ podcast.…
Dignity: We all want it
Dignity, alongside respect, person-centred care, choice, control and independence are all, in my view, part of the basics of care and support. We all want all of the above for ourselves, so why wouldn’t any person with care and support needs…
Resolve to be a dementia environment champion
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…
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…
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…
