My life with dementia | A Dementia UK podcast

One in two of us will be affected by dementia in our lifetime.    In Dementia UK’s podcast, ‘My life with dementia’, real people share their experiences of living with, caring for, or losing someone to dementia. Through their stories, presented by award-winning journalist and Dementia UK Ambassador Marianne Jones, we gain a deeper understanding of this complex condition, and the challeng...

On Valentine’s Day in 2019, Gail's world changed forever. At 54 years old, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Initially, she felt numb. But in the following weeks and months, there were so many emotions – confusion, sadness and anger.   With the help of her dementia specialist Admiral Nurse, Gail was able to shift her focus to what she can do, rather than what she can’t. She dec...

Ricky and his gran, Harbaksh, always shared a special bond. He describes her as more of a third parent than a grandmother. She lived next door, and relished being able to talk to Ricky in Punjabi. After several frustrating appointments with health professionals, Harbaksh was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in her 80s. Ricky was thrust into a caring role and set about learning everything he coul...

James's late wife Maria was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer's disease when she was 56 years old. As a couple, they found themselves on an unexpected path – moving through the different stages that followed her diagnosis. James tried to strike the balance between maintaining his wife’s independence while ensuring her safety. It was a balance that became increasingly difficult.  In this ep...

When it comes to father-daughter relationships, Rob and Lizzie’s couldn’t have been stronger. They shared a love for the outdoors, music and sport, and were always finding ways to make each other laugh.    When Rob began to struggle with driving in his mid-50s, the family knew something was wrong, but the prospect of dementia didn’t cross their minds. A few years later, Rob was diag...

When Andy was diagnosed with young onset dementia in his early 50s, it felt like a door was suddenly slammed shut. The life he'd imagined with his partner Christine was going to look very different. For months after his diagnosis, Andy withdrew from the world. He felt that he had no future. But over time, with the support of Christine and their dementia specialist Admiral Nurse, Andy found a purpo...

Siblings Aqib and Shahbanu care for their mum, Shama, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease when she was 70 years old.    The years following have been a steep learning curve. They have had to adopt new ways to interact with their mum. They've realised it's not always helpful to contradict her when she makes mistakes or forgets things. And they're careful not to let her feel sh...

One in two of us will be affected by dementia in our lifetime.   In Dementia UK’s new podcast, ‘My life with dementia’, real people share their experiences of living with, caring for, or losing someone to dementia. Through their stories, presented by actor Jim Broadbent, we gain a deeper understanding of this complex condition, and the challenges faced by those affected.  Subscribe...