My life with dementia | A Dementia UK podcast

Building on Bob's dementia story in our last episode, Hilda and Vic share what they see in practice every day from their perspectives as dementia specialist Admiral Nurses.    In this episode, they cover:   why men are less likely to access Dementia UK’s support services the benefits of getting help from professional carers the...

At 85, Bob has been caring for his wife Jan for seven years. Jan received a vascular dementia diagnosis, and until very recently Bob was her main carer. Bob is one of many older male carers who can become isolated in their communities, despite the vital role they play. In this episode, you’ll hear about Bob and Ja...

Following Will and Ronnie’s dementia story, Hilda and Vic offer practical guidance from their perspectives as dementia specialist Admiral Nurses. This episode offers insight and reassurance for families who feel unseen or misunderstood when living with young onset dementia. Key topics in this episode include: why it can take longer to get...

In this episode, we sit down with mother and son Ronnie and Will. Ronnie was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer's disease when she was 49 years old, when Will was just 16. Listen to them talk about how their relationship has evolved since Ronnie’s dementia diagnosis and Will’s experience as a young carer.   From initially hiding her diagnosi...

After listening to Elene's dementia story, Hilda and Safia share practical advice from their perspectives as dementia specialist Admiral Nurses. In this episode, Hilda and Safia discuss: how cultural beliefs can affect how someone responds to a dementia diagnosis the guilt family members may experience when there are problems with their loved one’s care more...

What happens when dementia care doesn’t reflect your traditions, your food or your culture? In this episode, Safia – one of Dementia UK’s first dementia specialist Admiral Nurses for Black, African and Caribbean communities – speaks to Elene, whose mum lived with mixed dementia.   They discuss why c...

Inspired by Tommy and Andrew's conversation in the pub, Hilda and Vic share advice and insight from their perspectives as dementia specialist Admiral Nurses. In this episode, they explore: the benefits of music for people living with dementia strategies for male carers to share more of their emotional lives with friends how grief can impact ca...

Tommy and Andrew met in a pub in Liverpool to talk about something many men struggle to discuss openly: dementia. Tommy has young onset Alzheimer's disease and Andrew is a carer for his mum, Ann, who received her vascular dementia diagnosis during Covid. In this episode, they talk about navigating the emotional ups and downs&nbs...

Hilda and Vic discuss Jules's dementia story, sharing advice and insight drawing on their clinical experience as dementia specialist Admiral Nurses. In this episode they explore: how to manage if the person you’re caring for becomes angry or aggressive how to cope when multiple family members are living with dementia at the same time how to create joyfu...

When Jules's uncle started showing symptoms of dementia, she had no idea that soon she'd be caring for multiple family members, who all received a dementia diagnosis around the same time. In this episode, Jules discusses some of the more challenging symptoms of dementia, such as aggression, and her dedication to keeping her family safe and happy. Jules’s&nbs...

Hilda and Vic go deeper into some of the themes from Chloe and Amy's dementia story, explaining what families can do next from their perspectives as dementia specialist Admiral Nurses. They cover: how schools can support young carers the importance of counselling to help young carers manage the emotional strain of looking after someone with a ...

Chloe and Amy were just 12 and 18 when their mum Sarah began showing symptoms of young onset dementia. Becoming young carers for a parent with dementia and coming to terms with their mum’s diagnosis was something they had never imagined. This is a story of a family pulling together under incredibly challenging circumstances, supporti...

One in two of us will be affected by dementia in our lifetime, and at Dementia UK, we believe no one should face it alone.   That’s why we created this award-winning podcast.   Hear first-hand dementia stories from people living with the condition, alongside life-changing advice from our dementia specialist Admiral Nurses.   Whether ...

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 ther...

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 discu...

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...

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&...

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 sy...

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 Chris’s story to give some extra advice and insight from their expert perspectives. They explore what chron...

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 Julie’s story to give some extra advice and insight from their expert perspectives. They share practical a...

Julie received her dementia diagnosis at just 54 years old. In the space of a few minutes, the doctor delivered the news, handed her a medication prescription and said goodbye. Julie felt so overcome with shock that she burst into tears. Julie lives on her own, and doesn’t have family members to care for her. It’s a situation many people with dementia find themselves in. She has found purpose in a...

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 George’s story to give some extra advice and insight from their expert perspectives. They talk about the c...

George's mum Linda was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease when she was just 57. George was 22 at the time. The years since have been characterised by adjustment. He's seen his dad become a full-time carer, and has supported his parents through some huge changes in how and even where they live. In this episode, George shares his experience of being thrust into the role of a young carer, and the emo...

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 Michaela’s story to give some extra advice and insight from their expert perspectives. They talk through t...

When her grandmother, Vanda, was diagnosed with vascular dementia, Michaela felt her world come crashing down. This was the woman who raised her, a role model she’d always looked up to. Feeling powerless and alone, Michaela yearned for community, and a place where dementia wasn’t taboo. A place where her nan could be herself. When Michaela couldn’t find it, she created it. The Spring Bleau Dementi...