Kate is joined by Beth, who shares her experience of caring for her dad, and the challenges of finding the right help when it's needed most.

Kate is joined by Debra, who shares her experience of caring for her husband, dealing with day-to-day challenges and building support networks.

In this episode, Melanie Blanksby speaks to author and former Children's Laureate Sir Michael Morpurgo about his life, telling stories, and the role of older people in our society

In this episode, Nathan Jarvis speaks to AlzAuthors co-founder Marianne Sciucco about the importance of storytelling and sharing positive real life stories for families living with dementia.

Explore the AlzAuthors website

Get the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiving Stories anthology ebook for free

In this episode, Sue joins Dr Raja in our first carer clinic, where they discuss the signs and symptoms of dementia and how your doctor will make a diagnosis.

In this episode, Melanie Blanksby, acting chief executive at Dementia Carers Count, speaks to dementia campaigner and former carer Tommy Whitelaw about his experience of caring for his mother, and seeing the person and not the dementia.

In this episode, Kate Legg, our Senior Specialist Practitioner, speaks to Specialist Practitioner and Queen's Nurse Lorraine Haining about managing medications at home.

The beginning of this episode discusses a leaflet from the World Health Organisation, which can be found here: 5 Moments Leaflet.

In this episode, Sue Hinds, our head of services, speaks to psychologist Dr Gemima Fitzgerald and career consultant Dawn Newey about the practical and emotional elements of returning to work after caring.

In this episode, Melanie Blanksby, our acting chief executive, speaks to Peter Berry and Deb Bunt about what it means to have early onset dementia, living well with dementia and recognising how important identity and friendship are.

In this episode, Kate Legg, our  Senior Specialist Practitioner, speaks to Jane Stanfield, who as well as being an associate practitioner at Dementia Carers Count is also a chaplain in a dementia nursing home. They discuss how spirituality is important for both people with dementia and those who care for them, as well as answering your questions about how to stay involved with the faith and spiritual enrichment of a person with dementia.

In this episode, Helen, our head of campaigns, speaks to Lucy and Felicity from the Good Company People, about how their organisation supports people with dementia, and the challenges of building a startup not-for-profit whilst being carers themselves.

In this episode, Melanie, our acting chief executive, speaks to Rebecca Fuller, The Archers' Beth Casey, about her family's experience of dementia.

Kate is joined by Barb, who shares her experience of caring for her mother, making memories, and finding balance.

In this episode, Sue Hinds, our Head of Services, speaks to Gina Smith, Founder of Create Visual Aids, about how we can use visual aids to work through communication challenges and help support people with dementia who have memory difficulties.

Episode links: 

https://www.createvisualaids.co.uk/

https://www.talkingmats.com/

In this episode, Specialist Practitioner Lorraine Haining speaks to Kate Legg, Senior Specialist Practitioner, about some of the challenges people with dementia can have with daily tasks like washing or eating and drinking, and how we can resolve these challenges and prevent them becoming bigger problems.

In this episode, Melanie, our acting chief executive, speaks to Helen and Gemima about the results of our carer survey and how carers can cope when they reach crisis.

If you feel you've reached crisis point or are struggling to cope, Dementia Carers Count is here to help. 

0800 652 1102

Our 0800 number is a free phone line to talk about the struggles you're having with a member of our team.

In this episode, Melanie, our acting chief executive, speaks to Gina Awad and Tony Husband about their book "United: Caring for our loved ones living with dementia". They explore some of the book's themes, as well as speaking about how the real life stories the book tells have affected them and their own relationship with dementia.

In this episode Sue, our head of services, speaks to Dr Gemima Fitzgerald, a clinical psychologist and one of our associate practitioners, about grief in relation to dementia. They also answer listener questions and share ways to help resolve and respond to the grieving process.

Music is an important tool in dementia care, with benefits for both the person with dementia and their carers.

In this episode our specialist practitioners Katy and Kate discuss how to use music to improve the quality of life for people with dementia by reducing stress and bringing back memories. They also answer listener questions and share how anyone can use music to help care for people with dementia.

In this episode Kate is joined by wellbeing coach and associate practitioner Andrew Embling to discuss simple ways that carers can use to improve their mental wellbeing. Learning about everything from ha breathing exercises to the lesser-known wonders of the outdoors, this episode of the Dementia Carers Count podcast really is a must listen for anyone who looks after someone with dementia.

Five of the 1966 World Cup winning England squad have gone on to develop dementia. In this episode, our chief executive Melanie speaks to John Stiles, son of Nobby Stiles, about the effect Nobby's dementia had on his family and their experience with the disease. John also talks about raising awareness of CTE - chronic traumatic encephalopathy - a condition caused by heading the ball in football, which is believed to contribute heavily to developing dementia later in life.

Recorded during our Facebook Live Q&A session on 16/06/2022, Helen and Jane discuss real-life examples of the challenges faced by dementia carers.  We cover the rising cost of living, Carers Assessments and power of attorney. We also look at the things you should consider after a diagnosis of dementia.

This is just a taster of what we have lined up for you during our five-day celebration of the lives and contributions of family dementia carers. We look forward to walking with you and listening to incredible stories together. 

Thank you for elevating the voices of the 700,000 people in the UK supporting a friend or relative with dementia. Thank you for helping us make dementia carers count.

#EverySmallStep2021

http://www.dementiacarers.org.uk/event

Kate is joined by Kelvin, who shares his experience of caring for his mother, the unique challenges of being a Black carer, and his work to support the next generation of dementia care.

David and Terry are two of our wonderful family carers that took part in Every Small Step last year. We loved listening to their conversation so much that we asked them to come back for Every Small Step 2021, and we were delighted when they accepted. If you didn't catch their conversation last year, you can watch the animation we made of it here.

Ambassadors for Dementia Carers Count, David and Terry are active in the dementia community, and they are passionate about sharing their stories to help other family carers get the support they need. In their new podcast episode, you'll get to hear David and Terry catch up on how things have changed for them over the pandemic while caring for their wives.

Join David and Terry for #EverySmallStep2021

http://www.dementiacarers.org.uk/event

Hannah founded The Joy Club in 2019 (an online activity club that provides inspiration for a more joyful retirement ), inspired by her grandmother’s experience of dementia to focus on increasing healthy life expectancy for all.   

Rebecca is the Director of Dramaworkshop, a drama school for young people aged 7-20 whose aim is to inspire and develop confidence, creativity and imagination. In January 2020, Rebecca released a poem about her Grandad’s dementia which went viral.

#EverySmallStep2021

http://www.dementiacarers.org.uk/event

Hannah founded The Joy Club in 2019 (an online activity club that provides inspiration for a more joyful retirement ), inspired by her grandmother’s experience of dementia to focus on increasing healthy life expectancy for all. 

Rebecca is the Director of Dramaworkshop, a drama school for young people aged 7-20 whose aim is to inspire and develop confidence, creativity and imagination. In January 2020, Rebecca released a poem about her Grandad’s dementia which went viral.

Shaun is a former journalist and Emmy award-winning film and TV producer turned writer. He recently published the memoir Love and Care which charts his first year learning to care for his mum, who has Parkinson's dementia.

#EverySmallStep2021

http://www.dementiacarers.org.uk/event

Andrew is a wellbeing coach and trainer and an Specialist Practitioner with Dementia Carers Count. Andrew's interest in dementia stemmed from his mother’s diagnosis, and he was introduced to our charity when he attended one of our courses. Andrew says working with Dementia Carers Count is like joining a family with the shared intention of helping and empowering family dementia carers.

Join Andrew for #EverySmallStep2021

http://www.dementiacarers.org.uk/event

Andrew is a wellbeing coach and trainer and a Specialist Practitioner with Dementia Carers Count. Andrew's interest in dementia stemmed from his mother’s diagnosis, and he was introduced to our charity when he attended one of our courses. Andrew says working with Dementia Carers Count is like joining a family with the shared intention of helping and empowering family dementia carers.

Join Andrew for #EverySmallStep2021

http://www.dementiacarers.org.uk/event

John is a former footballer turned comedian and son of the legendary footballer Nobby Stiles, who died last October with advanced dementia.

John spoke to us about his relationship with his father, the moments he cherished and the heavier stuff too. As well as his hopes for the future of dementia and football.

Join John for #EverySmallStep2021

http://www.dementiacarers.org.uk/event

Giles is an award-winning author, influencer and co-host of the Blank podcast. Giles lost his mother to leukaemia when he was just six years old, and his grandmother was later diagnosed with dementia. Giles spoke to us about living with grief, using kindness as a force for change and practising gratitude.

Join Giles for #EverySmallStep2021

http://www.dementiacarers.org.uk/event

Pippa is a dementia writer and advocate. She writes prolifically about the elderly, their care and its funding, and about dementia, which she describes as stealing her mum from her family in a drawn-out 10-year raid. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast ‘Well I know now’.

Trevor sits on our Carers Advisory Panel and is married to Yvonne who has young-onset Alzheimer’s and lives in a care home. He is passionate about helping other carers and since 2018 have spoken publicly at events and in the media about the very many practical aspects of supporting someone living with dementia. Trevor is a firm believer in early disclosure of dementia to family and friends, employers, banks and other powers that be because this generates an understanding and the creation of a help infrastructure.

#EverySmallStep2021

http://www.dementiacarers.org.uk/event

Lorraine is a Specialist Nurse Practitioner and Specialist Practitioner with Dementia Carers Count. For the last 18 years, Lorraine has worked in the field of dementia in the community in a variety of roles including as a community psychiatric nurse, in research, training and management, and as the head of dementia services in a retirement village. She’s currently the lead nurse for the IDEAS (Interventions for Dementia, Education, Assessment and Support) team at NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

Join Lorraine for #EverySmallStep2021

http://www.dementiacarers.org.uk/event

In this episode, our Head of Services Sue Hinds joins practising elderly and dementia care specialist Dr Raja to discuss why changing routines might be necessary, the impact it can have, and strategies to help those involved.

Yael Shotts is our Community Engagement Officer. She leads our team of wonderful volunteers and attends carer and community groups all over the country telling people about our life-changing courses and recruiting Ambassadors to spread the word about our work. Yael was drawn to our charity because of her personal experience of her grandmother's Alzheimer's.

Heather Brown is one of our Ambassadors and a true inspiration. Having cared for both her husband and her father with dementia, Heather has dedicated her life to helping others who find themselves in a caring role. Heather and Yael talk about their experiences, the little things that can help you get through a bad day and why self-compassion is key when you're caring for someone with dementia.

Yael Shotts is our Community Engagement Officer. She leads our team of wonderful volunteers and attends carer and community groups all over the country telling people about our life-changing courses and recruiting Ambassadors to spread the word about our work. Yael was drawn to our charity because of her personal experience of her grandmother's Alzheimer's.

Heather Brown is one of our Ambassadors and a true inspiration. Having cared for both her husband and her father with dementia, Heather has dedicated her life to helping others who find themselves in a caring role. Heather and Yael talk about their experiences, the little things that can help you get through a bad day and why self-compassion is key when you're caring for someone with dementia.

#EverySmallStep2021

http://www.dementiacarers.org.uk/event

Lorraine is a Specialist Nurse Practitioner and Specialist Practitioner with Dementia Carers Count. For the last 18 years, Lorraine has worked in the field of dementia in the community in a variety of roles including as a community psychiatric nurse, in research, training and management, and as the head of dementia services in a retirement village. She’s currently the lead nurse for the IDEAS (Interventions for Dementia, Education, Assessment and Support) team at NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

Join Lorraine for #EverySmallStep2021

http://www.dementiacarers.org.uk/event

Giles is an award-winning author, influencer and co-host of the Blank podcast. Giles lost his mother to leukaemia when he was just six years old, and his grandmother was later diagnosed with dementia. Giles spoke to us about living with grief, using kindness as a force for change and practising gratitude.

The full episode will be available on 13th October 2021 for #EverySmallStep2021

http://www.dementiacarers.org.uk/event

Peter was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in early 2015 aged 50. Deb is Peter’s best friend. They go cycling together every day and their friendship has enabled. Peter to continue cycling when he might otherwise have had to stop.

This is a taster of their candid conversation as Peter tells the world what it is really like to live with a terminal condition and Deb learns to enjoy each day more fully.

The full podcast episode will be published on 13th October 2021 for #EverySmallStep2021.

Sign up here: dementiacarers.org/event

Peter was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in early 2015 aged 50. He lives in Saxmundham, Suffolk with his wife Teresa. He records a weekly video diary detailing his experiences and sharing advice for others about living with young onset dementia. After his diagnosis, Peter became very depressed but, being a ‘glass half full’ personality, has battled through this depression and focused on his main passion for cycling. He has used this passion to raise awareness of the condition, particularly in younger people.

Deb is Peter’s best friend. They go cycling together every day and their friendship has enabled Peter to continue cycling when he might otherwise have had to stop. Last year Deb published Slow Puncture: Living Well With Dementia, this book is an account of a year in the life of Peter Berry.

When Peter meets Deb, recently retired, they embark on regular cycle rides and, as their friendship grows, Deb is able to look at her own life through the lens of Peter’s dementia. In Slow Puncture, Peter tells the world what it is really like to live with a terminal condition and Deb learns to enjoy each day more fully.

#EverySmallStep2021

http://www.dementiacarers.org.uk/event

To commemorate Father’s Day, we recorded a podcast with John Stiles about his family’s experience of caring for his father, the legendary footballer Nobby Stiles, who died last October with advanced dementia. 

John is a former footballer turned comedian and an ardent supporter of Dementia Carers Count. In this podcast, he shared heart-warming tales from his childhood and spoke about his relationship with his father - the moments he cherished and the heavier stuff too.

Suzy Webster spoke to us about her experience of caring for her mother, who has a diagnosis of hydrocephalus and Alzheimer’s Disease. 

Suzy won the award for An Exceptional Contribution by a Family Carer at last year’s Dementia Care Awards. An award which was advocated and sponsored by Dementia Carers Count. We are incredibly grateful that she shared her story with us.

Shobna Gulati is an award-winning actor, dancer, choreographer and presenter, Shobna recently published 'Remember me? Discovering My Mother as She Lost Her Memory'; a memoir on losing her mother to dementia.

In her podcast, episode Shobna speaks to Nimisha, who cares for her grandmother, about the highs and lows of their caring experiences and shares an insight into some of the amazing work that family carers do every day.

In this podcast, Claire, the Chief Executive of Dementia Carers Count, speaks to former carer Juliet Long about Juliet’s experience of caring for her mother. They discuss the duty that plays into caring roles and the ongoing support Juliet receives from the people she met on DCC’s course.

In this episode, Lorraine Haining is joined by Lissy Edwards to answer questions about incontinence and dementia, including the support available and how to talk about emerging problems.

In this podcast, Tony and Jill speak openly about working for and dealing with the NHS. Tony is a retired GP and Jill cares for her husband, Paul, who has behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia. They talk about the gap between what’s available to family carers and what they need, and how DCC is putting family carers back on the map.

In their podcast, married couple Jayne and Chris speak about how they met and the impact Chris’ diagnosis has had on their relationship. This is a touching, funny and wonderful account of a relationship over time.

In this touching podcast, Manjit and Peter talk about the life-changing impact becoming a carer had on them and how this experience led them both to join the DCC Carers Advisory Panel to shape the future direction of Dementia Carers Count.

In this podcast, David and Terry speak candidly about the unique challenges that male carers face, how their lives have changed since their wives’ diagnosis, and the impact DCC’s course has had on their approach to caring.