Helping Mum Remember Who She Is

Since mum has been home I have been painfully struck by the impact of vascular dementia on her memory. I thought I was prepared for the time when she no longer remembered me. What I didn’t expect is that her memories would come and go.

Responding to Feelings of Low Self-Esteem

After three weeks holiday, I visited mum at her care home last Sunday. When I arrived, she was walking up and down a corridor, wearing a winter hat and clutching my wedding album. I already knew from care staff that she was on antibiotics for a chest infection, so I was reassured to see her …

Choosing a Care Home

Choosing a care home for a family member living with dementia, may be the most important decision you ever make on their behalf. Of course if they have the capacity to make the decision, your role might be to support them. Either way, the more informed you are the better. The choice will have huge …

Is Contented Dementia a thing?

Is it possible to be contented if you have dementia? More importantly to me, can my mother be contented with dementia? The main reason I started this blog is to record my learning as I attempt to implement a method developed by the Contented Dementia Trust to improve the quality of life for my mother. …

Dear Mum

I wrote this letter to my mother in September 2016, for The Guardian's 'A letter to...' section where readers submit the letter they 'always wanted to write'.