Explore every episode of the podcast The Long Goodbye with Graeme Sutherland

This episode tackles one of the most emotional and misunderstood parts of the dementia journey: moving a loved one into a care home. 

Through an honest conversation with care home manager Jen, host Graeme Sutherland explores the guilt, fear, stigma, and reality of residential care, while sharing his own family's experience of finding the right home for his mum.

Moving a loved one into a care home is often accompanied by guilt, uncertainty, and difficult decisions. But what if care homes aren't the places many people imagine them to be?

In this heartfelt episode of The Long Goodbye, Graeme sits down with care home manager Jen to discuss what good dementia care really looks like. Together, they explore how families can navigate the transition into residential care, why so many people wait until crisis point before seeking support, and how person-centred care can help residents continue living meaningful, fulfilling lives.

From tackling the stigma surrounding care homes to discussing family involvement, life-enriching activities, end-of-life planning, and the importance of maintaining dignity and connection, this episode offers reassurance, practical advice, and hope for anyone facing one of dementia's toughest decisions.

Key Highlights

• Why families often delay looking at care homes and the impact this can have.
• How to choose the right care home and the questions you should ask.
• Understanding and overcoming the guilt that many carers experience.
• What "good care" really looks like beyond the stereotypes.
• The importance of activities, community involvement, and maintaining quality of life.
• Innovative programs including intergenerational "Grand Buddies" projects.
• Honest discussions around death, palliative care, and the "Death Café" initiative.
• How care homes can help families become sons, daughters, spouses, and partners again, rather than full-time carers.

If this episode raises any difficult emotions or concerns for you, please remember that support is available. Whether you're living with dementia, caring for a loved one, or coping with the impact of a diagnosis, you don't have to face it alone. For information, advice, and practical support, contact Alzheimer Scotland's Dementia Helpline on 0808 808 3000 or visit alzscot.org.

If you're struggling with your mental wellbeing, support is also available through Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 and Samaritans on 116 123, available 24 hours a day. 

Reaching out for help is a sign of strength, and there are people ready to listen and support you

In this episode of The Long Goodbye, Graeme is joined by Angela, a home care provider who played a significant role in supporting his family during their dementia journey.

Together, they discuss the realities of introducing home care into the family home, the emotional challenges of accepting support, and the guilt many carers feel when they realise they can't do everything alone. Graeme reflects on his family's experience of navigating council services, finding the right care provider, and learning to trust others with his mum's care.

The conversation also explores what quality home care should look like, the importance of person-centred care, how carers support entire families rather than just individuals, and why asking for help is often one of the bravest decisions a family can make. 

Key Highlights

• Why families often wait too long before seeking support.  
• The emotional impact of introducing carers into the family home.  
• Graeme's experiences with both poor and excellent home care services. 
• What person-centred home care really looks like.  
• How carers support not only the person with dementia but their entire family.  
• The importance of care plans, trust, continuity, and communication.  
• Social support, companionship, and helping people remain active and connected.  
• Knowing when home care is no longer enough and a care home may be needed.  
• Practical advice on finding reputable care providers and navigating available funding.  
• Recognition of the vital role unpaid carers play every day.

This episode shines a spotlight on one of the most overlooked parts of the dementia journey: accepting help. It's an honest conversation about home care, caregiver burnout, trust, and how the right support can transform life for both the person living with dementia and their family.  

If this episode raises any difficult emotions or concerns for you, please remember that support is available. Whether you're living with dementia, caring for a loved one, or coping with the impact of a diagnosis, you don't have to face it alone. For information, advice, and practical support, contact Alzheimer Scotland's Dementia Helpline on 0808 808 3000 or visit alzscot.org.

If you're struggling with your mental wellbeing, support is also available through Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 and Samaritans on 116 123, available 24 hours a day. 

Reaching out for help is a sign of strength, and there are people ready to listen and support you

In this episode of The Long Goodbye, Graeme sits down with Jim Pearson, Deputy Chief Executive of Alzheimer Scotland, to explore the vital support available for people living with dementia and the families who care for them. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience, this honest conversation tackles the challenges of getting a diagnosis, the importance of post-diagnostic support, and why no one should have to navigate dementia alone. 

You'll hear about Alzheimer Scotland's 24/7 helpline, dementia advisors, support groups, community activities, brain health initiatives, and the charity's ongoing fight for better dementia care across Scotland. The discussion also highlights the crucial role of unpaid carers, the importance of Power of Attorney, and the need to break down the stigma surrounding dementia.  

Key Highlights

• What Alzheimer Scotland does and how it supports families across Scotland
• Why getting a dementia diagnosis can be difficult, especially for younger people
• The importance of post-diagnostic support and why many families still miss out
• Practical advice on Power of Attorney and future planning
• How dementia cafés, support groups and activities help people stay connected
• The realities faced by unpaid carers and families
• Dementia prevention, brain health and current research developments
• How to access support, advice and emergency help when you need it most

This episode discusses dementia, diagnosis, caring responsibilities, and the emotional impact these experiences can have on individuals and families. If anything raised in this conversation affects you, support is available.

Alzheimer Scotland

• Dementia Helpline (24 hours): 0808 808 3000
• Website: www.alzscot.org
• Email: helpline@alzscot.org

The Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Helpline provides confidential information, emotional support, and practical advice for anyone affected by dementia, including family members, carers, friends, and people living with a diagnosis.

This is a deeply personal first episode that sets the foundation for the entire podcast. It's honest, emotional, funny, and gives listeners a real-world insight into what it's actually like to care for a parent with young-onset dementia.

What happens when dementia arrives decades earlier than expected and completely changes the course of your family's life?

In the debut episode of The Long Goodbye, host Graeme Sutherland and his twin sister Kirsten share the deeply personal story of their mum's young-onset dementia diagnosis and the 11-year journey that followed.

From the early warning signs that were mistaken for depression after their father's death, to the long battle for a diagnosis, becoming carers in their early twenties, and eventually moving their mum into a care home, this episode offers an honest, unfiltered account of the realities of dementia.

Alongside the heartbreak, Graeme and Kirsten reflect on the humour, resilience, and unexpected moments of joy that helped them navigate one of life's toughest challenges. This is a conversation about grief, love, family, and learning to say goodbye one small piece at a time.

Key Highlights

• The early symptoms that were repeatedly misdiagnosed as depression.
• The challenges of obtaining a young-onset dementia diagnosis.
• How dementia changed their relationship with their mum.
• Becoming full-time carers in their twenties and balancing work, life, and caregiving.
• The emotional impact of watching a loved one gradually decline.
• Practical advice on power of attorney, care planning, and accessing support.
• Why there is no "textbook" way to care for someone with dementia.
• The importance of finding joy, humour, and meaningful moments throughout the journey.
• Honest discussions about guilt, burnout, resilience, and grief.
• The story behind Graeme's social media platform and advocacy work.

If this episode raises any difficult emotions or concerns for you, please remember that support is available. Whether you're living with dementia, caring for a loved one, or coping with the impact of a diagnosis, you don't have to face it alone. For information, advice, and practical support, contact Alzheimer Scotland's Dementia Helpline on 0808 808 3000 or visit alzscot.org.

If you're struggling with your mental wellbeing, support is also available through Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 and Samaritans on 116 123, available 24 hours a day. 

Reaching out for help is a sign of strength, and there are people ready to listen and support you

Launching Sunday 20th September.

The Long Goodbye is a podcast for anyone whose life has been touched by Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

Hosted by Graeme Sutherland, the series brings together personal stories, expert insight and honest conversations with families, carers, advocates and healthcare professionals who understand the realities of living with dementia. Inspired by Graeme's own family's journey following his mum's Alzheimer's diagnosis at just 59 years old, the podcast explores the challenges, emotions and questions that so many families face every day.