Author: Dementia in the Family
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Navigating caregiver guilt
I was recently honoured to be invited by Being Patient Voices to write a Voices essay, and I jumped at the chance to share my story. Being Patient Voices is a fantastic resource for learning more about dementia.
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What if you don’t want to visit anymore?
Visiting a loved one with dementia can feel heartbreaking, even overwhelming. I often dread it, knowing it will weigh on me long after. Yet I keep going—for love, for reassurance, for duty. If you’re struggling too, know you’re not alone in these complicated feelings.
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In denial about dementia
We are all, in some way, in denial about dementia. The person living with it, their family, even society. We brush off early signs, explain them away, or avoid thinking about them altogether. Yet dementia remains, confronting us with fears we’d rather not face.
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Dementia and saunas
After my dad’s dementia diagnosis, brain health became personal. A Finnish study found men who used saunas 4–7 times weekly had a 66% lower risk of dementia. What once felt like indulgence now feels like self-care and prevention – a small, joyful habit that might protect my future.
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Care home visits and old photos
I visit my dad in the care home and sit beside him, showing him photos of my children in their school uniforms. When he reaches for my phone, I swipe to an old album of us together. A picture of him, young and strong, carrying me as a baby, hits me.
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Admiral Nurses
Admiral Nurses provide vital support for families affected by dementia, offering both practical advice and emotional care. Talking to one helped me understand my dad’s needs, navigate visits, and feel less alone.
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What modern life does to our minds
After camping in the calm of a Sussex meadow, returning to London felt like sensory overload. The noise, concrete and pollution make me wonder what modern life does to our brains. With my dad’s dementia in mind, I feel the urgency of protecting my own future health.
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Visiting my father with dementia
“Your teeth look great!” my dad said – the first full sentence in a long time. It landed like a gift. Visiting him in the care home is never easy. Dementia has taken so much, but that small moment of clarity, of kindness, reminded me he’s still here, in glimpses.
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A thank you to Wendy Mitchell for her work on dementia
Wendy Mitchell’s writing offered a powerful, personal insight into life with dementia—illuminating what my father could never express. Her courage, honesty, and warmth helped me better understand his journey. This tribute reflects on what her work meant to me, and why her voice will continue to resonate far beyond her death.
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Assisted dying and dementia
Assisted dying is back in the spotlight as UK legislation progresses. For people with dementia, it’s a deeply personal and often painful subject. This post explores how offering choice, with safeguards, could bring dignity and peace of mind – without devaluing life or rushing decisions. Compassion means respecting autonomy as well as vulnerability.
dementia in the family 