Tag: daughter
-
Grief in dementia
Visiting my dad now, I barely recognize him, and he doesn’t recognize me. Dementia changes everything—memories, personality, connection. Grieving isn’t a waste of time; it’s a way to honour what’s lost. And even in the sadness, there are moments that remind me he is still here, still my dad.
-
The shortest day, over and over
I visited my dad on the Winter Solstice, the shortest and darkest day of the year. Dementia feels like living at a threshold — between past and future, daughter and carer. Advanced dementia, to me, feels like the shortest day, over and over again.
-
The many stages of dementia
Dementia shifts in ways you never expect. Just when one stage feels familiar, another begins. My dad’s mobility, memory, and recognition change from week to week, and we’re learning to meet each moment as it arrives.
-
Running on empty while loving someone who’s forgetting
Life feels like a long-distance run right now—school runs, work, dinners, collapse, repeat. I know I need to visit my dad, but dementia makes every visit tender and painful. He hardly knows me, and sometimes my presence unsettles him.
-
How to talk to your children about dementia
When someone you love has dementia, explaining it to your children can feel daunting. There’s no perfect way to do it — every family finds their own words. This is my experience of helping my children, who were very young when my dad was first diagnosed.
-
Riot Women and midlife
Riot Women focuses on middle-aged women navigating that uniquely intense stage of life – caught between raising children and caring for ageing parents. Two of the characters are dealing with a parent’s dementia, while also confronting menopause and the other challenges that seem to hit all at once at this age.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
dementia in the family 