Q&A with Marianne Jones, host of My life with dementia podcast

What is your connection to dementia?

Last year I lost my mum Maria to dementia at the age of 83.

She was diagnosed with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s during Covid although she had quite clearly been showing symptoms for a long time. It started with her constantly losing things, which we put down to absent-mindedness, but the day she forgot to cook her signature risotto, a dish she’d been making for years,  we knew something was very wrong. The eventual diagnosis was both heartbreaking and a relief. Yet my sister and I felt that we were navigating much of mum’s condition alone, with no real support or advice from anyone in the medical profession. We were glad to find charities such as Dementia UK, which helped us both practically and emotionally. 

I felt I lost pieces of mum every time I saw her and eventually she lost the ability to speak. The worst day was when she stopped recognising me, something you can never truly prepare for. Now, while I’m still processing the grief, I remember her as she was at her happiest – her laughter, her warmth and her enormous love for her family.

Why did you want to take part in this season of the podcast?

What I found most lacking after mum’s diagnosis were the voices of people living with dementia and those affected by it. I wanted to hear stories I could relate to, and perhaps give me an insight into what mum was going through. Listening to the experiences of loved ones and people with dementia in this new series, was hugely affecting and is so, so helpful for anyone going through it. 

I’ve written a lot about the condition in the press over the last few years because I feel that, while one in three people born today in the UK will develop dementia, there is still a stigma attached to it. It is important that we don’t hide our people behind closed doors. Feeling alone when you are navigating dementia is awful and I wanted to help bring the conversation into the open. 

What can listeners expect from this season of the podcast?

You can expect six incredible storytellers, both carers and people living with the condition, each sharing their unique experience of dementia. You’ll also hear from some who, like me, are grieving the loss of a loved one. 

I related in some way to every person, all of whom were so full of love and positivity. Listeners will come away not just with great tips and advice, but inspired at the resilience, humour and humanity of those sharing their stories.

Alongside each story is an episode with two of Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurses, Hilda and Vic, who explore some of the themes from each experience and offer practical advice. 

Did you resonate with some of the themes that came through in the stories from this season of the podcast?

Hearing from each of the storytellers was at times quite emotional for me and I did shed a few tears at one point during the narration. 

Many things resonated: feelings of profound sadness and guilt. Navigating support services. The heartbreaking decision to move Mum into full-time care, while telling her she was just going for a ‘little break’. A reversal in family roles. And through it all, those moments of joy and love that keep you going.

Subscribe to ‘My life with dementia’ on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts to listen to new episodes as soon as they come out.