Tag: mental-health
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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.
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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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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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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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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 