My life with dementia | A Dementia UK podcast

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 there have been plenty of heartbreaking moments, the hardest came when Penny had to move Rosemary into a care home. Further resources:  Find out more about Dementia UK and the life-changing support of Admiral Nurses  Discover ways you can look after yourself as a carer Learn more about considering a care home for someone with dementia Read personal stories from people living with a diagnosis, their family members and friends

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 discuss what to look for in a care home, offer advice on coping with feelings of guilt, and explain the importance of life story work. If you haven’t heard Penny’s episode yet, we recommend giving it a listen first. Further resources:Find out more about Dementia UK and the life-changing support of Admiral Nurses   Learn more about considering a care home for someone with dementia Read about how to cope with feelings of guiltDiscover more about creating a life story for a person with dementia

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 changed to dementia with Lewy bodies.After initially having the full support of his employer, Phil saw firsthand the lack of understanding once the word ‘dementia’ entered the equation. He has since dedicated himself to ensuring people understand their rights when it comes to the crossover between work and dementia. Further resources:  Find out more about Dementia UK and the life-changing support of Admiral Nurses  Access information and resources about young onset dementia, where symptoms develop before the age of 65 Learn more about employment and young onset dementia Learn more about supporting employees affected by dementia and their carers Read personal stories from people living with a diagnosis, their family members and friends

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 guidance on how to tell your employer about a dementia diagnosis, reasonable adjustments that can be made in the workplace, the benefits of occupational health assessments, and life after retirement. If you haven’t heard Phil’s episode yet, we recommend giving it a listen first. Further resources:Find out more about Dementia UK and the life-changing support of Admiral Nurses  Learn more about employment and young onset dementiaRead about the value of meaningful activities for people living with dementia

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 chronic stress looks like, the role of a 'sandwich carer' and how respite care can offer much-needed support. If you haven’t heard Chris’s episode yet, we recommend giving it a listen first. Further resources:Find out more about Dementia UK and the life-changing support of Admiral Nurses  Discover ways you can look after yourself as a carer Explore tips for sandwich carers

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 advice for living alone with dementia, the importance of finding purpose in every day life, and the often overlooked value of occupational therapy.If you haven’t heard Julie’s episode yet, we recommend giving it a listen first.Further resources:   Find out more about Dementia UK and the life-changing support of Admiral NursesAccess support around living alone with dementiaLearn more about finding help and support at home

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 advocating for this community.In this episode, Julie talks about maintaining her independence while living with dementia, finding the courage to ask for help, and the importance of amplifying the voices of people with lived experience. Further resources:  Find out more about Dementia UK and the life-changing support of Admiral Nurses  Access information and resources about young onset dementia, where symptoms develop before the age of 65 Find young onset dementia support groups and services Read personal stories from people living with a diagnosis, their family members and friends 

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 changing family dynamics after a dementia diagnosis, the importance of setting up a lasting power of attorney and the value of peer support groups.If you haven’t heard George’s episode yet, give it a listen first.Further resources:  Find out more about Dementia UK and the life-changing support of Admiral Nurses  Access information and resources about young onset dementia, where symptoms develop before the age of 65 Read tips and advice to help parents support children and adolescents when the other parent has young onset dementia