@Ollywelchh

When Dementia Stops Being “Something That Happens to Other People”

Until recently, dementia was something I associated with statistics, headlines, or distant stories. Something that happened to “other families”. But over the past few days since beginning this journey with DementiaUK, that has changed. Friends have begun to speak about parents who are no longer quite the same, about partners who are slipping away in ways that are hard to explain, and about families trying to stay afloat while navigating something they never expected to face.

Hearing these stories has been deeply moving. Not because they are dramatic or extraordinary, but because they are heartbreakingly ordinary. Dementia does not announce itself loudly. It arrives in small moments: a repeated question, a forgotten name, a shift in personality that feels unfamiliar but is difficult to name. And before families realise it, life has changed.

What has struck me most is how isolating the experience can be—not just for the person living with dementia, but for everyone around them. Friends describe a constant state of adjustment: grieving someone who is still here, learning how to communicate all over again, and balancing love with exhaustion, patience with frustration, hope with realism. It is a complex emotional landscape, and there is no simple map.

Many families don’t talk about this openly at first. Dementia still carries quietly within these families, and there’s often a sense of shame or guilt attached to struggling. I’ve heard people say they felt they were “failing” when they became overwhelmed, or that they should somehow be coping better. But dementia is not something anyone is prepared for. There is no handbook for watching someone you love change in ways neither of you can control.

What I’ve also learned, through these conversations, is how vital support can be. The difference it makes when someone listens without judgement, or when families are given space to ask questions and admit they are struggling, cannot be overstated. Knowing that expert help exists—that there are people who understand both the clinical and emotional realities of dementia—can be a lifeline.

Dementia affects far more than memory. It reshapes relationships, routines, and identities. Roles shift: children become carers, partners become protectors, and families must renegotiate what “normal” looks like. Amid all this change, there is still love—often expressed in new ways. A hand held a little longer, a shared laugh over a familiar song, a moment of calm in an otherwise confusing day. These moments matter.

Listening to friends has also made me more aware of the importance of early, compassionate conversations. Talking about dementia doesn’t make it happen, but avoiding the subject can make the journey lonelier. When we acknowledge dementia openly, we create room for understanding, for practical help, and for kindness—both towards others and ourselves.

If there is one thing I’ve taken away from these experiences, it’s that no one should have to face dementia alone. Support, whether emotional, practical, or professional, is not a luxury—it’s essential. Organisations like Dementia UK, and the Admiral Nurses who work so closely with families, play a crucial role in ensuring people have somewhere to turn when things feel unmanageable.

For anyone currently walking this path—whether you are living with dementia, caring for someone, or supporting a family member—your feelings are valid. The confusion, sadness, anger, and love can coexist. Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness; it is an act of care.

Dementia may be increasingly common, but each experience is deeply personal. By listening, sharing, and supporting one another, we can ensure that fewer people feel alone when dementia enters their lives—and that compassion remains at the centre of every conversation.

Small Acts, Big Impact: Supporting Those Affected by Dementia

Dementia is something many of us know about, but fewer of us truly understand until it touches our lives — or the lives of someone we care about. It’s a condition that affects memory, communication, and independence, but it also reveals something powerful: the kindness, patience, and resilience of the people who step up to support those living with it.

Even the smallest contribution can help:

• Support families at every stage of dementia
• Fund specialist nursing care
• Improve quality of life for those living with dementia

A Positive Step Forward

This fundraiser is about hope. It’s about choosing kindness. And it’s about believing that, together, we can make living with dementia a little less daunting and a lot more supported.