There have been few documentaries I’ve enjoyed as much as Channel 4’s ‘Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds’. For me it ticked every box – it featured some amazing older people (the oldest was 102) and pre-school children (the…
Tag: positive approach
Action for dementia care and support – Living with dementia
Welcome to the fourth of my five blog posts for UK Dementia Action Week 2018 (DAW2018). This year Dementia Awareness Week is renamed Dementia Action Week to reflect the need for action for people affected by dementia rather than only focusing on awareness. In this…
The rainbow of dementia
This week will mark what would have been my dad’s 91st birthday, and later on in April, the 6th anniversary of his passing. These milestones have left me reflecting on the last 19 years of dad’s life, how dementia crept…
Resolve to embrace human rights
(A note before I begin this blog post: You should not consider anything written in this blog as legal advice for you or anyone you care for). During my dementia training for social care professionals, I ask participants: “Do you…
Remember me
My dad’s legacy Since 2012, this slide is how I have finished many a presentation at a conference or event. It’s a simple philosophy, but a highly effective one at helping audiences remain grounded in the most vital aspect of…
Think about the ‘Dementia Words’ that you use
As this year’s Dementia Awareness Week rapidly approaches (17-23 May), I anticipate that there will be a surge in coverage related to dementia in the UK. Indeed, it was the start of Dementia Awareness Week in May 2012 that saw…
Reablement for people with dementia
As we approach Easter, a time associated with rebirth, new life, possibility and opportunity, I have found myself thinking about how this correlates with the experience of living with dementia. Historically, a diagnosis of dementia has been seen as a…
Reflections on 2014
So, the end (well nearly the end) of another year. 2014 has truly flown by for me – a whirl of speaking engagements, writing assignments, teaching, advising, assessing and supporting. Picking out highlights is always tough. Sometimes the most special…
Reflections on 2013
Reflecting on a whole year is never an easy task. So many different events, milestones, and most importantly people have contributed to the last 12 months, each leaving me with that most precious gift – a memory. My collection of…
G8 Dementia Summit – Our time is now
The first ever G8 Summit on Dementia will take place in London today. A historic moment that finally demonstrates an acknowledgement from the world that dementia is THE global health and care priority that governmnts worldwide are grappling with. Looking beyond…
G8 Dementia Summit – My dad’s message
I often wonder what life would be like if my dad was still alive. If he had never developed dementia I imagine him still growing a few veggies, reading his books, sitting in his chair enjoying box sets of the…
Your voice
Sometimes I meet people who seem genuinely perplexed by my passion for the work that I do. Trying to convey the warmth and genuine love I have for my vocation isn’t always easy, particularly amongst those with very negative viewpoints of…
Does the world really stop?
There is a prevailing view that when someone is told that they have dementia, everything in their life must stop. If they were working or studying that must stop. They must stop driving. They stop being spoken to and start…