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Help bring dementia out from behind closed doors and tell us, what is your reality of dementia?
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My mum was diagnosed with dementia 7 years ago adter we noticed she was having ome slight problems with her memory. Things progressed fairly slowly until around d a...
My father would go wandering and then not know his way back home due to vascular dementia. He lived alone and we only realised the problem when the police phoned as...
My mother has dementia. My sister was her carer until she couldn't cope any more, and now my mother is in a home. Gradually, everything has gone. She used to walk a...
My husband had vascular dementia…he died in 2022 in...
My mum has vascular dementia and to see her slowly forgetting is heartbreaking i we are a close family who ate caring for her at my home I personally would like to...
I lost my Father in May 2023 from over 20 years of...
My husband is 69 and has Lewy Bodies Dementia. He was finally diagnosed 2 years ago after a fight to get help.
He is getting more and more confused and muddled. He...
Watching my close friend lose her beautiful mum from dementia, over several years, was so, so hard. In sharing her experience we found that so many families are going...
I realised after my mother died at 81 that she had...
My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2018. He died 2023. He was very physically active, enjoyed gardening, weight lifting, and was creative
Dementia is such a prolonged cruel disease. We have...
My 52 year old husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's...
My mum was diagnosed with dementia 7 years ago adter we noticed she was having ome slight problems with her memory. Things progressed fairly slowly until around d a year ago. In a short space of time, she went from carers coming in twice a day, to four times a day and now into a care home. She has hallucinations, is constantly worried and anxious, can be tearful and angry, and behaves in ways that would horrify her if she realised. In her more lucid moments she knows who I am, but sometimes thinks I'm her Mum and sometimes I think I'm just a familiar face. I know that we have to make the most of the time we have her and that it's the illness that is causing her to behave in ways that are not my mum or my childrens grandma. She was very involved in their life growing up and they all still visit, hug her and tell her they love her regularly. I think she can feel this love even when she's not sure who we are. We don't know how much longer we might have her and no-one can gives us a timeline. I think that's perhaps the hardest thing,, no knowing how long you may have them for and how quickly or slowly this horrible illness will go, taking little pieces of her from us every day.
Sharon
My father would go wandering and then not know his way back home due to vascular dementia. He lived alone and we only realised the problem when the police phoned as they had picked him up. He told the Doctor I was his Aunt. He wouldn't come live with us and stopped eating and became aggressive. It broke my heart when we had to put him in a Home as we couldn't cope. He hated it and we had to then put him in a locked Home as he was wandering. I felt so much guilt, he was very unhappy and we felt some relief when he passed. Very scary and sad disease as you lose the person you knew who turned into someone we didn't recognise. He used to think his family were people from the Salvation Army or the Church and we lost him before he died.
Margaret
My mother has dementia. My sister was her carer until she couldn't cope any more, and now my mother is in a home. Gradually, everything has gone. She used to walk a lot, but now she can't do that and she's in a wheelchair. She barely communicates, but the staff can find out what she wants to eat, when she wants to go to bed and so on. We've not received any help, or indication of what will happen next, or what we should do. Her savings have gone, so now we have to sell the house.
My Mum has gone. She doesn't know us. It was when she didn't recognise her favourite picture of my Dad that we knew that was the end. I feel helpless. She doesn't know who we are.
My Mum has gone. She doesn't know us. It was when she didn't recognise her favourite picture of my Dad that we knew that was the end. I feel helpless. She doesn't know who we are.
Lynn
My husband had vascular dementia…he died in 2022 in a Care Home .at the age of 78. He became a completely different person to the one he had been . My father did at 96 with Alzheimer’s .in 2019. The Government provides No support for these diseases .. my fathers care cost around £200,00.00 .. it destroys my mother who died short after my father. There are no drugs or treatment and you are left on your own after diagnosis.. It is the most horrendous disease that is not treated serious any government as it will take an awful lot of money !!
Hilary
My mum has vascular dementia and to see her slowly forgetting is heartbreaking i we are a close family who ate caring for her at my home I personally would like to thank chanel 4 and everyone in making the programme
Michael
I lost my Father in May 2023 from over 20 years of Alzheimer’s/Vascular dementia. It was so very difficult and too many times through the stages I saw him die. I was with him at the very end and it was still horrific. But at least he and I were finally at peace. Now my mother, my best friend, my partner in crime 😊 has dementia but not professionally diagnosed. Once again, another awful struggle to go forward with. It does make me think how long have I got. It is genetic! I’m so scared,. When is my time to decline? I don’t have family, so at least there will be less suffering other than my friends. Is there anybody out there to help ME? Thank you for reading
Sarah Ruth
My husband is 69 and has Lewy Bodies Dementia. He was finally diagnosed 2 years ago after a fight to get help.
He is getting more and more confused and muddled. He doesn’t sleep well at night as he Hallucinates due to the Dementia.
He sees various things, Victorian people. Koala Bears. Cats etc, so obviously because he doesn’t sleep then neither do I as I have to go along with the hallucinations and he asks me to get rid of the things he sees, I have to tell them to leave and even open the front door so he can see me throw them out.
I care for him 24/7 and I’m now getting burnt out and exhausted, my heart goes out to him as he must feel so mixed up not understanding anything.
There is no help where I live, no support etc, without my daughter I don’t think I could get through.
He is getting more and more confused and muddled. He doesn’t sleep well at night as he Hallucinates due to the Dementia.
He sees various things, Victorian people. Koala Bears. Cats etc, so obviously because he doesn’t sleep then neither do I as I have to go along with the hallucinations and he asks me to get rid of the things he sees, I have to tell them to leave and even open the front door so he can see me throw them out.
I care for him 24/7 and I’m now getting burnt out and exhausted, my heart goes out to him as he must feel so mixed up not understanding anything.
There is no help where I live, no support etc, without my daughter I don’t think I could get through.
Stephanie
Watching my close friend lose her beautiful mum from dementia, over several years, was so, so hard. In sharing her experience we found that so many families are going through the exact same situation, without the support they desperately need. The work of Alzheimer’s Society gives me hope for a different future!
Lizzie
I realised after my mother died at 81 that she had been clearly suffering.
For about 5 years I have been suffering more and more. Doctors have said I have not got dementia.
This morning I looked at my colleague and it took me a while to remember her name. During the morning I ended up in tears with another colleague because of my fear of my poor memory and the way I am poorly functioning..
I know my demise will get worse. Whether it is caused by menopause or worse the dreaded disease. I hope this helps your research
For about 5 years I have been suffering more and more. Doctors have said I have not got dementia.
This morning I looked at my colleague and it took me a while to remember her name. During the morning I ended up in tears with another colleague because of my fear of my poor memory and the way I am poorly functioning..
I know my demise will get worse. Whether it is caused by menopause or worse the dreaded disease. I hope this helps your research
Dianne
My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2018. He died 2023. He was very physically active, enjoyed gardening, weight lifting, and was creative
Gail
Dementia is such a prolonged cruel disease. We have cared for my mother in law in our house for 5 and a half years. I gave up work to care 24/7 for her 2 years ago. She has decline soo much in the last year. My husband (whilst he holds down a full time job) and I tag team to care for her. Our family life with our teenage daughter has stopped. Caring is hard enough but it’s the stress from dealing with doctors, pharmacy, hospitals, council, benefits. We are broken financially, emotional, mentally, sleep deprived and physically. My health also has declined from the stress and 2 months ago, I had a seizure from the stress. We keep her safe, warm, feed, watered and loved, all whilst not being medically trained and unpaid.
It’s all just soo wrong!!!
It’s all just soo wrong!!!
Nicky
My 52 year old husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's nearly 3 years ago and this devastating disease that started as a whirlwind has now developed into a methaphorical mile wide F5 tornado. One that takes no particular path, but causes terrible destuction and destroys everything along the way. We have 3 young children age 10, 13 and 24 and they too are living with this devastation every day and we are all feeling heartbroken 💔
Natasha
Share your story
Help bring dementia out from behind closed doors and tell us, what is your reality of dementia?