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My husband was diagnosed with mixed dementia, both Alzheimer's Disease and vascular dementia in 2021. I suspected something was going wrong earlier than that but he was in denial. It has been the most challenging time of my life, especially as Covid had struck too, and we were going through lockdown. The latter did a lot of mental harm to people who were already confused and frightened. We had been married for 55years, and this illness caused him to forget me much of the time, it robbed him of everything he had taken pleasure in. He went into a care home in March 2021 and I was not allowed to see him for months. It affected both of us deeply mentally and physically. He thought he was in prison and desperately wanted to come home, he wondered what he had done wrong to be treated like this and he thought I had "dumped" him. There was little, if any help, from the authorities. There needs to be much more understanding of this illness, those who suffer it seem to me to be " the forgotten". He is now in a nice care home where the carers are excellent. The illness can also cause financial stress and worries. . Governments do not appear to care, all they give are promises, promises which never materialise.

My husband and I have been married for 61 years. He has suffered a catalogue of illness with some long term health issues but we have always coped together. He started to get forgetful and agitated which was so unlike him. Although he was referred to the Memory Clinic it took about six years to finally diagnose Alzheimer’s. It has become the greatest challenge of my life. He no longer knows me, children or grandchildren. He is so very lost and just wants to see his mother who died over 30 years ago. It is heartbreaking as all his senses disappear. We have always been best friends but he only understands I look after him. He is 86 and I am 82 with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Life is hard every day.. We are not wealthy but never relied on benefits. So sad our heating allowance has been withdrawn.

Hi all. As yet I have not been diagnosed with dementia. I do have mild Aspergers.xBut I know what I have to look forward to. I KNOW I have changed in the lady couple if years. I am a single lady living on my own. I will need someone or organisation to turn to. Keep up the good work. You are needed.

My story started 11 years ago my husband was diagnosed with alzheimer's dementia we have been together for 54 years married 50 he slowly declined over 9 year to which he became aggressive ordered me out the house so now he is in a nursing home can't walk talk etc I miss him every day visit regularly but don't no who I am last xmas he was put on palliative care but he keeps going I really don't no how he is doing it horrible awful disease

My sister and myself started to suspect dementia in our mum around two years before diagnosis. Just repeated conversations to start with and then she began to withdraw into herself at social gatherings whereas she was always the life and soul in the past. My mum was finally diagnosed a week after my sister passed away and I then became her carer. My dad was in denial and had no understanding of the difficulties I faced. I muddled through for the next five years with daily visits to ensure she was fed and the household chores were done. There were some very strange behaviours over these years, eating very odd foods in the night and drinking alcohol out of character. She would spend hours folding toilet tissue and hiding it all over the house leaving none in the bathroom. I cared for her alone until she had a fall and from hospital was transferred to full time dementia care home. She died ten weeks later. Dementia still haunts my dreams now, the pain and feelings of helplessness never fade. The government need to address the financing of dementia care homes and see it as the category of disease that needs to be prioritised for more funding for unpaid family carers.

I wish my husband could write his experience of dementia but he can’t use his laptop, phone or use remote controls. His permanent catheter always causes problems with UTIs - his last infection meant nine weeks hospitalisation- he uses a zimmer as his mobility has deteriorated - I’m exhausted and cannot leave him alone at all. He’s only 62. I’ve not had a break since his ‘official diagnosis’ two years ago. My mental and physical wellbeing is at rock bottom - sometimes he has no idea who I am. I feel selfish to want a break but if I don’t get one soon I’ll be no good for him.

I am a carer along with my husband, brother and sister in law for my mother in law, who has now passed away and my father in law who has altzehimers.
We all work full time and managed their care for over 9 years with private carers.
We had no support from outside organisations as they have money and could afford private care but it has not been easy, we have faced numerous challenges and have seen first hand the pain of watching someone close slowly fade away,
My mother in law sadly died a few weeks ago after an 8 year battle with dementia. My father in law does not remember she has died, he has to relive it daily.
Challenges of having to step up and provide personal care, deal with falls at all hours of the day and night, try to encourage medication, drink and food, deal with managing communication when speaking coherently is no longer an option. Managing fall prevention, lifting aids, finances, shopping, personal care when noise and un recognized carers have to be involved.
Its a heartbreaking illness and is not funded or supported enough.
My mother and father in law have been married over 60 years and thankfully my mother in law died peacefully in bed next to her husband.

I lost my dad to vascular Dementia 4..5 yr ago. It must of been hell for him as it was for all our family I have always had aniiexty but from when my dad got dementia it trebled I still get bad days you never think you will see your dad been reduced to a baby it was a form of hell I can’t believe what a great job my mam doing looking after dad at 77 yr old she did