As I was compiling a roundup of the last six months of dementia news for MacIntyre’s Dementia Special Interest Group recently, one story jumped out at me: “In 2020, 46,000 women died from dementia, almost twice as many as men (24,000)…
Tag: families
Are you in the 15% or the 85%?
I see a lot of dementia statistics in my work, but none have shocked me more than that which Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) published on 21 September 2022 as they launched their 2022 World Alzheimer’s Report. ADI said: “Up to 85%…
Finding familiarity in unlikely places
We talk a lot in dementia care about the importance of familiarity, whether it’s achieved through using words or phrases that are familiar to the person, or whether it’s through familiar environments (OWL FM) or familiar items or objects. Familiarity…
Carers: We are United
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…
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…
