Dementia and Me

By BBC Radio SheffieldHealth & Fitness

Dementia and Me episodes

June 22, 2020 "Do you remember about the virus being out there?"
STAY ALERT for this special edition of the podcast, with hosts Grace Stead and Peggy Walker.
If you can't visit someone with dementia because of coronavirus will they forget you? And how worried should you be if someone you love is in a care home right now?
Talking to James McKillop from Glasgow, Scotland who has had dementia for more than 20 years. They discuss social distancing, remembering to wash your hands, and using technology to keep in touch with friends around the world. (And in 2020 as a way to keep your distance from people just down the road...)
Warning: this podcast contains jokes from James, who says a sense of humour is a good way to face dementia.
Mentions:
@JohnCampaign
@AlumniDementia - Scottish DEEP
This podcast is made by BBC Radio Sheffield (but this episode was made from home)
Listen to our other episodes and talk to us: @bbcdementiapod
For support and help: bbc.co.uk/actionline
34 min
March 09, 2020 10. "It wasn't funny at the time"
Grace Stead and Peggy Walker meet another person living well with dementia.
Jacqui Bingham is a stroke survivor, and was relieved when she finally got her diagnosis of young onset Alzheimer’s in 2018.
Her friend felt differently about the news, and what the future may hold.
Jacqui moved to the UK from South Africa in 2000 and says she’s got more friends since developing dementia.
Self-care is important, so she also talks about why you should tell your massage therapist that you have dementia!
The dementia diaries service: @DementiaTweets
This podcast is made by BBC Radio Sheffield
Follow us and get in touch on Twitter: @bbcdementiapod
For support and help: bbc.co.uk/actionline
This is the final episode of season 1.
Thanks for listening!
31 min
March 02, 2020 9. "Who's looking after you?"
In this episode Grace and Peggy pop round to see Surryia Chauhdry and her husband Khurshid, who has dementia. They met in Pakistan, and now live in Sheffield. They also chat to health worker Nur Ali from @shipshapewell. She talks about the challenges of getting dementia information out to different communities.
Research focusing on black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities is 'essential and challenging,' according to Alzheimer's Society.
Follow us and get in touch on Twitter: @bbcdementiapod
For support and help: bbc.co.uk/actionline
34 min
February 24, 2020 8. "Dementia isn't a mental health condition"
Do you know about the risk factors of developing dementia?
Smoking, diet, lifestyle and how much alcohol you drink are all thought to play a role. There are always headlines about things that can apparently help prevent dementia, and things that could increase your risk. But does anyone really know?
In this episode Grace and Peggy go with Howard Gordon - who has dementia - to meet Manmohi Dake at the University of Sheffield's department of neuroscience @neuroshef
This podcast is made by BBC Radio Sheffield
Join the conversation, and find out more about the series: @bbcdementiapod
For support and help: bbc.co.uk/actionline
30 min
February 17, 2020 7. "Know that you’re not alone"
Grace and Peggy discuss the reaction to the podcast.
In this episode, they hear a surprising admission from a tv legend, and get a shoutout on national radio (Thanks @bbc5live !)
If you’ve found this podcast in any way useful, interesting, happy or sad - well, we’d love to hear from you.
Follow us and get in touch on Twitter: @bbcdementiapod
For support and help: bbc.co.uk/actionline
26 min
February 10, 2020 6. "What's my reality? What's your reality?"
Digital voice assistants are already used by lots of people living with dementia.
In this episode Grace and Peggy take tech further by trying virtual reality... they also go to stroke a robot cat in Rotherham.
The department of computer science: @shefcompsci
The tech: @LifePathVR
This podcast is made by BBC Radio Sheffield
Follow us and get in touch on Twitter: @bbcdementiapod
For support and help: bbc.co.uk/actionline
31 min
February 03, 2020 5. "I can't remember where I live"
Have you ever thought twice about taking someone with dementia to the cinema or theatre?
Sheffield Theatres - winner of Regional Theatre of the Year 2020 - put on specially adapted performances to meet the needs of people living with dementia.
Grace works with the theatre, which you'll hear in this episode. Peggy joins her to chat to staff Claire and Paul. They're joined by Ray and Brenda who have dementia, and activities coordinator, Alison.
The theatre: @crucibletheatre
This podcast is made by BBC Radio Sheffield
Follow us and get in touch on Twitter: @bbcdementiapod
For support and help: bbc.co.uk/actionline
25 min
January 27, 2020 4. "When you're in it, you don't see it"
What impact does a dementia diagnosis have on a family?
Two brothers from Bolton talk about their Mum who had frontotemporal dementia.
Lee and Andrew Pearse work in the dementia department at a city farm in Sheffield.
They talk about caring for their Mum, Val, who was 59 years old when she was diagnosed with vascular dementia and later rediagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (formerly known as Pick's disease.) FTD causes particular problems with behaviour and language.
The brothers openly discuss being carers - and then ex-carers - and even tell Grace and Peggy about their nature-inspired tattoos.
The farm: @HeeleyCityFarm
The Valerie Foundation: @TValerieF
This podcast is made by BBC Radio Sheffield.
Follow us and get in touch on Twitter: @bbcdementiapod
For support and help: bbc.co.uk/actionline
33 min
January 20, 2020 3. “It’s very important to live in our world”
Wendy Mitchell started blogging when she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's when she was 58. Those blogs were turned into a best-selling book, "Somebody I Used to Know", with the help of journalist Anna Wharton.
Wendy lives 'happily alone' in Yorkshire and chats to Grace and Peggy in her local pub beer garden. She shares mindful advice and encouraging words for people with dementia, and carers. Her attitude will inspire anyone.
This podcast is made by BBC Radio Sheffield.
Follow us and get in touch on Twitter: @bbcdementiapod
For support and help: bbc.co.uk/actionline
34 min
January 20, 2020 2. "A part of my brain goes away on holiday"
Award-winning actor Vicky McClure, best known for her part in BBC series Line Of Duty, talks about experiencing dementia in her family.
She tells Grace and Peggy about her TV documentary series 'Our Dementia Choir,' which shows the power of music to help people living with the disease.
They chat around Vicky's kitchen table in Nottingham, and are joined by choir member Julie Hill who has dementia. Julie gives tips on finding her car when she's out shopping and explains why she gets through so much shampoo!
As well as starring in 'This Is England' and 'Broadchurch,' Vicky is now an ambassador for Alzheimer's Society.
This podcast is made by BBC Radio Sheffield.
Join the conversation, and find out more about the series: @bbcdementiapod
For support and help: bbc.co.uk/actionline
39 min