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3 members of my family had Alzheimer's/Dementia. My father passed in 2005 and whilst I didn't provide care for him, I was unable to work more than a few hours a week because of the daily phone calls spent chasing carers who did not arrive etc. A key co-ordinator is necessary for carers to avoid having to contact all involved in the care individually. I spent the rest of my working life living beneath the poverty line, which would not have happened if there had been a key co-ordinator.

My ex husband was a highly intelligent man who spent his last years in terror of everything which was heart breaking to watch. He lived with my eldest son. My grandaughter was one when he passed. She's now 5 and still cries sometimes because she can't see grandad.

My aunt who lived abroad, a compassionate ex-primary school teacher passed last year. I hadn't seen her for years so was spared the stress/deep sadness of watching her deterioration.

My eldest son is a successful, resilient businessman who now lives with buried fears that he too is at risk.

This is a terrifying disease that affects entire immediate and extended families. Politicians, beware, this could be you too in the near future!

Dementia has made a terrible impact on my family. 5 years ago my wife was diagnosed with Dementia, to say it was a shock is an understatement, but in the last 5 years our lives have been turned upside down, my wife has had 3 strokes and is now bed bound she also has Diabeties and IBS. If that was not enough for her while she was in hospital we lost 2 of our wonderful daughters. We have been married 57 years and at the moment Denise can still remember a great deal but the events over the last few years are taking there toll. B T

For ten years I with help nursed my beloved husband who had vascular dementia. Eventually going into a home where in 2018 he died.

My wonderful Dad was diagnosed approximately 2016/17 with Alzheimer’s, As many do, he denied it, this caused arguments. When he accepted it there would be wonderful weeks, followed by ugly days. These nearly broke us all, my Dad wanted to die & for us to hurry that process, my Mum would hide in bed for days, not eating, drinking, taking her meds.
Eventually my brother & I broke & decided we needed both parents in respite care. Mum came home after a short break but Dad was too confused by now, so he stayed in the home. He was only in the home 8 weeks when he stopped eating & drinking. He ended up in hospital where a week later, with an infection. He died peacefully with my Mum, brother, myself & my husband with him.
My Dad worked hard all his life, his one aim was to leave his family financially stable, he would be horrified to know how much 8 weeks care home fees are for the sick. I’ve asked my MP to look into making a change. I’m looking at being tested to see if I might develop Alzheimer’s, we need life insurance to not be affected by this life saving choice.
To those of you affected by Alzheimer’s, for now, love is the answer, fight for their rights. It’s scary as #$@% for you & them. Look out for infections, infections are hidden because of the illness, they cause more confusion.
Love & respect to everyone suffering, you are not alone, reach out.

I had very little help when my wife started developing symptoms, being sent home from A&E with no offer of help or support. That is until 5 officials appeared at our gates ,unannounced, telling me they had come to take her away for Mental Health Assessment. I told them where to go. Next day they returned with police and she was driven off to nearest psychiatric unit 36 miles away. 15 months later she in in a care home, which I found having rejected those suggested by Social Services. I am contributing £26,000 a year out of our retirement income for her care. If she had a medical condition instead of Alzheimer’s State would meet cost of her care in full.

My wonderful wife Valerie suffered from Frontotemporal dementia and the three words that stand out to me from almost 4 years of 24/7 care are Independence, Identity and dignity. First you lose your independence, then your identity because you may look the same but you are obviously not. Finally sadly you lose your dignity. It is such a cruel disease and sadly patients and carers do not get the support they desperately need. It was a terribly sad way to end Valerie’s life after being together for 64 years from the age of 13.

I wish people & Government to become more aware that Dementia can strike at any age & a lot of younger people are more than likely to have a Dementia that has a fast pace of deterioration.

My husband was diagnosed with Frontal Temporal Behaviour Variant Dementia at the age of 61, still employed at this time. We realised at this point, that he probably had been living with Dementia for a few years before but our ignorance of it & the length of time it took Drs to diagnose him,, after many visits, treating him at first for depression, all took time.
The impact this has had on our family is devastating, the years our family should have had together, hubby getting to know his Grandchildren, doing things as a family, has all been taken away from us, hubby's retirement now being spent in a Care Home with us visiting him and the impact on his life is sole destroying.
Dementia is a wicked disease.
I would like to see more understanding for people of the types of Dementia & that the word 'Dementia' is an umbrella word for ALL types.

Hi, I looked after my dear wife for two and half years before she was moved into a care home where she died 4 years ago. She had picks disease a personality changing dementia. One minute having a cuddle then it would change to you are a scumbag, we are not married get out of this house, you learned to live with it.
I'm actually about half way through writing a book, a day by day life story of about a year of our journey to gether. Ken

A dear friend and neighbour suffered with Vascular Dementia. It was extra painful and challenging as her son had died suddenly and unexpectedly. She lived alone with support from neighbours and a care agency. Thankfully her last few months were spent in a local care home. She was very settled there. She sometimes thought she was on holiday there with her son or sometimes round visiting me. She was a special kind lady and she is very much missed.