My life with dementia | A Dementia UK podcast

Growing up, Penny didn’t have to look far for her hero. It was Rosemary – her mum.

Rosemary had a confidence about herself. A warmth and kindness for others. And a smile that lit up a room. She taught Penny to believe in herself, to try things and see things.

In 2016, Rosemary was diagnosed with mixed dementia. For the past eight years, Penny has been her mum’s primary carer. And while there have been plenty of heartbreaking moments, the hardest came when Penny had to move Rosemary into a care home.

Further resources:
Find out more about Dementia UK and the life-changing support of Admiral Nurses
Discover ways you can look after yourself as a carer
Learn more about considering a care home for someone with dementia
Read personal stories from people living with a diagnosis, their family members and friends
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode features two of Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurses – Hilda and Vic. Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses who provide free advice and support to the whole family, as well as the person with the diagnosis.

In this episode, Hilda and Vic delve deeper into some of the themes from Penny’s story to give some extra advice and insight from their expert perspectives. They discuss what to look for in a care home, offer advice on coping with feelings of guilt, and explain the importance of life story work.

If you haven’t heard Penny’s episode yet, we recommend giving it a listen first.

Further resources:
Find out more about Dementia UK and the life-changing support of Admiral Nurses
Learn more about considering a care home for someone with dementia
Read about how to cope with feelings of guilt
Discover more about creating a life story for a person with dementia
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A registered nurse for over 40 years, Phil found his dream role in lecturing graduate and undergraduate nurses at a university. In teaching, he had found his calling.

In 2015, Phil began to notice he was forgetting names. Sometimes he would enter a room and forget why he was there. As his symptoms became more pronounced over the following year, an initial diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment was changed to dementia with Lewy bodies.

After initially having the full support of his employer, Phil saw firsthand the lack of understanding once the word ‘dementia’ entered the equation. He has since dedicated himself to ensuring people understand their rights when it comes to the crossover between work and dementia.

Further resources:
Find out more about Dementia UK and the life-changing support of Admiral Nurses
Access information and resources about young onset dementia, where symptoms develop before the age of 65
Learn more about employment and young onset dementia
Learn more about supporting employees affected by dementia and their carers
Read personal stories from people living with a diagnosis, their family members and friends
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode features two of Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurses – Hilda and Vic. Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses who provide free advice and support to the whole family, as well as the person with the diagnosis.

In this episode, Hilda and Vic delve deeper into some of the themes from Phil’s story to give some extra advice and insight from their expert perspectives. They share guidance on how to tell your employer about a dementia diagnosis, reasonable adjustments that can be made in the workplace, the benefits of occupational health assessments, and life after retirement.

If you haven’t heard Phil’s episode yet, we recommend giving it a listen first.

Further resources:
Find out more about Dementia UK and the life-changing support of Admiral Nurses
Learn more about employment and young onset dementia
Read about the value of meaningful activities for people living with dementia
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the span of a decade, Chris cared for his parents, who both had dementia.

An only child with very little extended family, Chris assumed the role of primary carer without much discussion. He juggled parenting his own son, working full-time in the emergency services, and his caregiving role. And eventually, he reached breaking point.

In this episode, he talks about the constant battle with a system that was supposed to support him, and the importance of looking after yourself as a carer.

Further resources:
Find out more about Dementia UK and the life-changing support of Admiral Nurses
Learn more about how dementia can affect relationships and roles
Discover ways you can look after yourself as a carer
Learn more about financial and legal support
Read personal stories from people living with a diagnosis, their family members and friends
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.