Season three of My life with dementia

Episode one: Becoming young carers in our teens: Chloe and Amy’s story of young onset dementia

Release date: 21st April

Chloe and Amy were just 12 and 18 when their mum Sarah began showing symptoms of young onset dementia. Becoming young carers for a parent with dementia and coming to terms with their mum’s diagnosis was something they had never imagined.

This is a story of a family pulling together under incredibly challenging circumstances, supporting each other to juggle work, school and looking after Mum.

Chloe and Amy’s dementia story will resonate with families who are navigating a dementia diagnosis while trying to hold on to everyday life. Read more of Chloe and Amy’s story.

Episode two: Siblings, school and emotional strain: how Admiral Nurses can support young carers for a relative with dementia

Release date: 23rd April

Hilda and Vic go deeper into some of the themes from Chloe and Amy’s dementia story, explaining what families can do next from their perspectives as dementia specialist Admiral Nurses.

They cover:

• how schools can support young carers
• the importance of counselling to help young carers manage the emotional strain of looking after someone with a dementia diagnosis
• how Admiral Nurses can help families prepare for the future through advance care planning, including lasting power of attorney

Episode three: Anger, turbulence and joy in dementia: Jules’s story of caring for her family

Release date: 28th April

When Jules’s uncle started showing symptoms of dementia, she had no idea that soon she’d be caring for multiple family members, who all received a dementia diagnosis around the same time.

In this episode, Jules discusses some of the more challenging symptoms of dementia, such as aggression, and her dedication to keeping her family safe and happy.

Jules’s dementia story offers comfort to anyone facing the challenges of dementia, while reminding us that joy is still possible.

Episode four: Coping with aggression and change in dementia: how Admiral Nurses can offer practical and emotional support to carers

Release date: 30th April

Hilda and Vic discuss Jules’s dementia story, sharing advice and insight drawing on their clinical experience as dementia specialist Admiral Nurses.

In this episode they explore:

• how to manage if the person you’re caring for becomes angry or aggressive
• how to cope when multiple family members are living with dementia at the same time
• how to create joyful memories even as someone’s dementia is progressing

Episode five:  Masculinity and dementia: Tommy and Andrew’s story

Release date: 5th May

Tommy and Andrew met in a pub in Liverpool to talk about something many men struggle to discuss openly: dementia.

Tommy has young onset Alzheimer’s disease and Andrew is a carer for his mum, Ann, who received her vascular dementia diagnosis during Covid.

In this episode, they talk about navigating the emotional ups and downs of living with dementia and how expectations around masculinity have affected their experiences.

Tommy and Andrew’s dementia story challenges stereotypes and opens up an honest conversation about how men experience dementia, whether they’re living with the condition themselves or caring for someone with a dementia diagnosis.

Episode six: Sharing the emotional weight of grief: how Admiral Nurses can support men through dementia care

Release date: 7th May

Inspired by Tommy and Andrew’s conversation in the pub, Hilda and Vic share advice and insight from their perspectives as dementia specialist Admiral Nurses.

In this episode, they explore:

• the benefits of music for people living with dementia
• strategies for male carers to share more of their emotional lives with friends
• how grief can impact carers long before their loved one has died

Episode seven: When dementia care doesn’t reflect your culture: Elene’s story of mixed dementia

Release date: 12th May

What happens when dementia care doesn’t reflect your traditions, your food or your culture?

In this episode, Safia – one of Dementia UK’s first dementia specialist Admiral Nurses for Black, African and Caribbean communities – speaks to Elene, whose mum lived with mixed dementia.

They discuss why cultural awareness, though often overlooked, is so important to provide compassionate, person-centred dementia diagnosis and care.

Elene’s dementia story offers insight and reassurance for families who feel unseen or misunderstood in dementia care. Read more of Elene’s story.

Episode eight: Food, routine and tailored care: how Admiral Nurses can provide culturally appropriate dementia support

Release date: 14th May

After listening to Elene’s dementia story, Hilda and Safia share practical advice from their perspectives as dementia specialist Admiral Nurses.

In this episode, Hilda and Safia discuss:

• how cultural beliefs can affect how someone responds to a dementia diagnosis
• the guilt family members may experience when there are problems with their loved one’s care
• more about Safia’s role as an Admiral Nurse for Black, African and Caribbean communities

Episode nine: When young onset dementia strikes your family: Ronnie and Will’s story

Release date: 19th May

In this episode, we sit down with mother and son Ronnie and Will. Ronnie was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s disease when she was 49 years old, when Will was just 16.

Listen to them talk about how their relationship has evolved since Ronnie’s dementia diagnosis and Will’s experience as a young carer.

From initially hiding her diagnosis to becoming an advocate for better awareness of young onset dementia, Ronnie’s dementia story is one of resilience and hope. Read more of Will and Ronnie’s story.

Episode ten: Misconceptions and the difficulty of diagnosis: how Admiral Nurses can offer support with young onset dementia

Release date: 21st May

Following Will and Ronnie’s dementia story, Hilda and Vic offer practical guidance from their perspectives as dementia specialist Admiral Nurses.

This episode offers insight and reassurance for families who feel unseen or misunderstood when living with young onset dementia.

Key topics in this episode include:

• why it can take longer to get a diagnosis for younger people with dementia
• which types of dementia may benefit from medication
• the impact a dementia diagnosis can have on close relationships

Episode eleven: Knowing when to ask for help: Bob’s story of vascular dementia

Release date: 26th May

At 85, Bob has been caring for his wife Jan for seven years. Jan received a vascular dementia diagnosis, and until very recently Bob was her main carer. Bob is one of many older male carers who can become isolated in their communities, despite the vital role they play.

In this episode, you’ll hear about Bob and Jan’s love story, his unwavering dedication to his wife and her care and how he overcame his reluctance to ask for help.

Bob’s dementia story will feel familiar to many carers supporting a partner and gently explores the courage it takes to accept support.

Episode twelve: It’s okay to ask for help: how Admiral Nurses can ease the stress of caring for someone with dementia

Release date: 28th May

Building on Bob’s dementia story in our last episode, Hilda and Vic share what they see in practice every day from their perspectives as dementia specialist Admiral Nurses.

In this episode, they cover:

• why men are less likely to access Dementia UK’s support services
• the benefits of getting help from professional carers
• the pros and cons of moving house when you’re living with someone who has a dementia diagnosis