Tag: health
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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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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.
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One step forward, two steps back
Visiting my dad in the care home is a mix of quiet miracles and heartbreak. Dementia shifts constantly – progress one day, confusion the next. He said my name, something I haven’t heard in so long. I carry that small moment with me, even as everything else keeps slipping away.
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Walking, wandering & dementia
When dementia took my father’s ability to walk, it marked the loss of more than movement – it was the end of our shared rambles, his independence, and a lifetime of direction. This reflection traces his journey from avid walker to wheelchair, and the emotional terrain we now navigate as a family.
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Father’s Day
Father’s Day felt hollow without my dad at the table – he’s back in the care home after a fall and hospital stay. Watching other families with grandfathers stung. I miss his quiet wisdom, his help, his presence. Even everyday problems remind me of what we’ve lost, piece by piece.
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Birthdays & guilt
I reflect on feelings of guilt and inadequacy surrounding my father’s recent birthday celebration in a care home. I compare this guilt to “mum guilt” and discuss the pressures of balancing family, work, and self-care. Despite the weight of these emotions, I seek positivity and self-compassion in navigating dementia.
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What I wish I’d known: reflections for Dementia Action Week
During Dementia Action Week, I reflect on the journey of coping with a loved one’s dementia. Dementia is different for everyone, but it’s important to share memories while you can, seek support, and remember the power of simple presence. I also share some resources that I have found useful.
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The mind, memory and language with dementia
I explore how dementia affects memory and communication, particularly focusing on my father. I highlight the phenomenon of “time-shifting,” where people recall distant memories more easily than recent ones. Reading remains intact longer than verbal expression, while music evokes deep connections, revealing the complex relationship between memory, language, and emotional ties.
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Risk factors for dementia
Recent studies reveal new risk factors for dementia, including untreated vision loss and high cholesterol. While these factors are preventable, I reflect on the personal grief of watching a loved one with dementia. The anguish of late diagnosis underscores the importance of early intervention.
dementia in the family 