I looked after my mom Gwendoline untill she passed away this January. She was diagnosed with multiple dementia including Alzheimer’s, vascular and Lewy body. Having nursed dementia patients from student nurse untill I retired in 2019 but looking after my mom was so different and at times hard. It was so hard to see my once confident determined clever mom become like my child and scared of I wasn’t close and confused when she didn’t know where so was. She would ask my name and I’d say it’s Sherree ans mom would say oh I have a daughter called Sherree and then she thought I was her mom 😔 I slept with her as she was scared to sleep alone and every night till just before I lost her she would hold my hand and say I do love you and I’m so glad your here. So whether I was her daughter her sister or her mom she loved me and that keeps me going now x

My mam was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia in 2017 when she was 81 years old.
Lewy Body dementia causes depression and hallucinations, which was the worst aspect. Trying to convince your mam, over the phone, that the person sitting next to her is the man she’s been married to for almost 50 years is a very strange scenario. Dad did an incredible job of looking after her, especially during the various lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As my family and sister are based in London and my parents were in the north east, we couldn't be with them as much as we wanted to. Somebody was there once every two weeks, but that didn’t ever seem enough.
Dad’s birthday is in early January - just when everyone had gone back to work and school after the Christmas holidays - so it wasn’t always possible to be with him on his birthday, which we all felt very bad about. I created ‘Grandad’s birthday’ based on an imagined scenario before and on his birthday.
Although my dad also had support from doctors, social workers, friends and neighbours, it was often hard to cope day-to-day and make the 'right' decisions regarding my mam's wellbeing and care. I would like ‘Grandad’s birthday’ to help raise awareness and enable others going through similar situations to find support.
You can watch my animation here > https://avstudios.com/project/grandads-birthday/

Dementia took my dad from me twice first slowly over six years as it stole his memories and changed the man I had always known and then finally when I lost him. Being his carer was one of the greatest privileges and hardest challenges of my life. There were heartbreaking days but also moments of love strength and connection I will carry forever. Losing him has left a huge space in my life, I’m fundraising for Alzheimer’s Society because no family should have to face this journey alone and because my dad’s memory deserves to live on through something positive.

My mum is living with vascular dementia at 73 years young, and supporting her through this journey has changed my life forever. Watching someone you love slowly lose memories, confidence, and parts of themselves is heartbreaking. Dementia does not just affect the person diagnosed. It affects the whole family, emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Some days, Mum still smiles, laughs, and feels like herself, and those moments mean everything. Other days are much harder, filled with confusion, fear, tears, and sadness. It can feel like you are grieving someone while they are still here, which is something many people do not fully understand until they experience it themselves.

Through this journey, I have learned the importance of patience, compassion, and simply being present. I have also seen how vital support, community, and kindness are for families living with dementia. No one should have to navigate this alone.

I am supporting Alzheimer’s Society because families need more awareness, guidance, hope, and understanding. Dementia can feel isolating, overwhelming, and invisible at times, but every conversation, every act of support, and every shared story helps people feel less alone.

My mum’s journey has given me a deeper purpose to advocate for others affected by dementia and to help spread awareness with empathy, love and kindness. My mission is simple: help people feel better. One conversation, one smile, one habit at a time.

For Mum. For the memories. For every family facing dementia today and in the future.

Five years ago, I lost my mum — my best friend — to this terrible illness, and the pain hasn't eased with time. I still find myself questioning so much of what I did back then, wondering if I could have done more, or done it differently.
At the time, I had no idea how much help was available. I went through it doing everything I could to support my mum, my dad and the rest of our family — determined that she would live the life she wanted, right up to her last breath.
That's why the work of this society means so much to me. I hope it continues to be there for other families going through what we went through, so that no one has to face it feeling as alone or unprepared as I did.

My Poohbear (Nan) got diagnosed with dementia 8 years ago, it was slow to begin with but as the years progressed so did the disease. She was the family matriarch, full of sarcastic sas and wit, even in her final days. She was strong and stubborn and is one of the reasons I am who I am. This disease took my Poohbear from me and I hope one day for a cure so other families don’t have to witness their persons downfall.

Valerie: The Heart of Our Family

My beautiful Aunty Valerie was my mum’s sister, and one of the kindest, most loving women anyone could ever hope to know. She was the heart of our family strong, energetic, charismatic, and always bringing people together.

Valerie worked as a legal secretary in London and was immensely proud of her work and her family. She was the eldest of four siblings, Valerie, Carol, Jimboy and Robert and throughout her life she remained a guiding force to us all. Family was everything to her.

Before holidays abroad became common, our family gatherings were centred around treasured trips to the Isle of Sheppey. Those holidays are some of my happiest memories: long days together, laughter filling every room, children running around while the adults talked and reminisced. Valerie loved those moments. She loved having everyone close.

Her daughter Jacky and grandchildren, Aimee, Chloe and George, absolutely adored her, and the feeling was completely mutual. Valerie also had a son, Bobby, whose children, Natasha and Shaun, brought her enormous pride and happiness. She treasured every one of her grandchildren and loved spending time with them all.

Saturdays became a special family tradition, with everyone gathering together whenever possible. My mum Carol and I would join them when we could, and those afternoons were always filled with warmth, laughter and love. Valerie had a way of making everyone feel welcome and important.

She was also incredibly generous. One of the greatest acts of kindness I’ll always carry with me is that Valerie bought my wedding dress. It was such a loving thing to do and perfectly reflected the kind of person she was thoughtful, selfless and always wanting to make others happy.

When Valerie first started forgetting little things, none of us thought too much of it. She had always lived such a busy and full life that we simply put it down to stress or tiredness. But over time, the forgetfulness became more noticeable. Small lapses slowly turned into moments that worried us all, and deep down we realised something wasn’t right.

Watching someone so vibrant begin to change was incredibly difficult for our family. Alzheimer’s slowly started to take pieces of the woman we knew so well. Yet even as her memory faded, the love she had built around her never disappeared. Her children, grandchildren and wider family remained by her side, holding onto the moments of joy, humour and affection that had always defined her.

Valerie’s memory continues to inspire our family today. My daughter Harriet ran a half marathon in memory of her beloved Auntie Valerie a tribute filled with love, determination and pride, reflecting just how deeply Valerie touched the lives of those around her.

To us, Valerie will never simply be remembered for her illness. She will be remembered for her laughter, her strength, her generosity and the enormous love she gave so freely. She was the centre of so many cherished memories and the glue that held our family together.

Alzheimer’s may have changed many things, but it could never take away the impact Valerie had on all of our lives. She will always be deeply loved, proudly remembered, and forever at the heart of our family.
She was Simply The Best!

I’m from a family of 9
My 3 eldest siblings Frank 87 Sylvia 85 keith 82 all have had heart operation , brothers both had new aortas . Sister had triple heart bypasses ,
Since these late in life they have all developed Dementia . Whether it’s related or not ?
My sister-in-law said after Keith’s new aorta in his 60s he was never the same,
All 3 go about their days very slowly and as Keith said
“I don’t do anything anymore! I just sit here”
It’s hard being the now youngest sibling as I’ve lost them ! Yet they are still here 😔 Brothers both have 8 yr younger wifes whom look after them ,
Sadly my widowed sister is in care ,
It’s a cruel disease as my sister is not sure who I am ! She keeps saying I cant remember things , my brothers although sleepy seem to know me ,
Life for them is placid and quieter and no interest in anything but just to sit and look around sleepily ,
I’m proud of my sister in laws that care for mh brothers , it’s not easy for them and very soul destroying,
All carers of dementia are angels as it’s such a destructive disease .