I haven't experienced alzheimers in a personal way, i worked in a nursing home with it and saw the way family and loved ones suffer when they are not recognised.

My husband Alan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2004.
He passed away 22nd November 2006. He was 68.years old an a keen sportsman who.like playing football,cricket and Golf.

My wonderful and much missed mum Anne Davies gave so much love to us all . She was talented , funny and an inspiration to everyone she knew and all the children she taught. It’s so important to remember what she was like before her illness, that’s how I think of her now always busy and putting others first . She was an amazing lady whose memory I shall always cherish. Love you Mumsie! Xxx

Navigating the Unknown: My Father-in-Law’s Journey

We first noticed changes in my father-in-law's memory a few years ago, but like many families, we initially put it down to the natural process of getting older. However, over the last 18 months, the reality became much harder to ignore. He began forgetting entire conversations and would frequently lose his train of thought mid-sentence, the words seemingly just out of reach.
In December 2025, I accompanied him to the memory clinic for a daunting two-hour assessment. It was an intensive process, involving everything from naming as many animals as possible in a minute to detailed questionnaires about his daily life. The result was a diagnosis of Dementia with Parkinson’s. Despite my own professional background working in dementia care, I was surprised to learn that those living with Parkinson’s are significantly more likely to develop dementia. It has been a steep learning curve for us all.

Since the diagnosis, his confusion has deepened, and his ability to manage independently at home is fading. Giving up his driving licence for medical reasons was a particularly heavy blow; losing his car meant losing a lifetime of freedom, and he is now having to relearn how to navigate the world without it.

We are currently navigating the frustratingly slow process of seeking support from the local council, but as his case is not yet considered "urgent," we remain in a difficult limbo. I am sharing his story for the Forget-me-not appeal to show that dementia is a complex, multi-layered journey, and to advocate for the timely support that every family deserves.

I am supporting Alzheimer's because my Dad has been living with Alzheimers for the past 7 years. Fortunately, my Dad throughout his life has been very fit and healthy. An ex- professional football player and manager I believe his level of fitness has helped him, as 7 years after diagnosis he still remembers his family. Early diagnosis and medication has certainly prolonged his ability to recall his immediate families names even though he has no short term memory. As with many families of ex-professional footballers who's husbands, fathers, sons and brothers who played football professionally in the 1970's, 80's, and 90's my Dad's story may unfortunately be too familiar. This was a time when training sessions for centre forwards could be spent purely on 'heading the ball'. In the future I hope that the research into the link between Alzheimer's and heading the ball helps to protect others. Love to all the people suffering with Alzheimer's and even more love to the carers who dedicate their lives to the cause.

I will be wearing my forget me not pin this June in memory of my lovely dad, Thomas Ryan, who passed away on 3rd April, 3 weeks before his 91st birthday. My dad was diagnosed with dementia with Lewey bodies, 4 years ago.
As a family we managed to keep him at home with my lovely mam, for 2 years until he lost the ability to walk, mobility can deteriorate quickly with Lewey bodies, and the hardest day of my life was when we had to put him in a care home.
The only blessing was that he was mostly cheerful throughout his illness and always seemed happy to see us, also the carers in his home, Ashton Court, were wonderful!
I believe that my dad would still be with us today if it wasn’t for the dementia as his body was strong to the very end, he was a wonderful husband, dad, grandad and great grandad and is deeply loved and missed by all of his family,
I am supporting the Alzheimer’s Society as I believe this is the cruellest disease and there isn’t enough support for the research required or for the patients and families affected by it xxx

My lovely husband Colin is living with Alzheimer’s. Every day he battles through living with this disease and his positivity, sense of humour and kindness makes me so proud to be his wife. Sometimes I have to go and have a little cry as I miss the man he was so much. But recently I realise the new man that he is is different but still a lovely man with different traits that I love so much

Last year, my grandma was diagnosed with vascular dementia, and since then life has changed in ways I never expected. Watching someone you love slowly struggle with their memory, understanding, and independence is heartbreaking, especially when that person means everything to you. My grandma is the closest person to me, and seeing the changes dementia brings has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced.

Some days are filled with sadness, frustration, and grief for the little pieces of her that dementia slowly takes away. But through it all, she is still my grandma, still the person who has loved me, guided me, and been there for me throughout my life. Dementia doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed; it affects the whole family, and it can feel incredibly isolating at times.

For Dementia Action Week, I want to share this not only for my grandma, but for everyone living with dementia and for the families trying their best behind the scenes every single day. Please be patient, kind, and understanding. A little compassion goes a long way.

I’m incredibly proud of my grandma and the strength she continues to show every day. No matter what dementia changes, the love I have for her never will.