I never imagined when I began writing D4Dementia daily that I’d now only manage a yearly one!
Initially the break was due to technical problems, but in all honestly since spring this year it’s simply been lack of time as I juggle family life with young children and my mum and working full-time.
2024 has been a whirlwind with many challenges punctuated by moments of unexpected joy. The end of a year is always a cue for reflection, so this is a little whistle-stop tour of the things I never found time to blog about on D4Dementia in 2024.
Starting 2024 with sadness…
My overwhelming memory of early 2024 is sadness, with the news that Wendy Mitchell had died. So many wonderful things have been written about Wendy since her death, every one of them chiming with my experiences of Wendy’s wonderfully warm, engaging personality, can-do attitude and determination to make the best of her life with dementia, sharing it with all of us to help us understand dementia better.
What stands out so much for me from my time working with Wendy was how generous she was with her time and willing to answer any question. She has left a hole that cannot be filled in the lives of all who knew her, but she has also left a wonderful legacy and I would urge anyone not familiar with Wendy’s blog and books to have a read.
Finding inspiration
On happier note in early 2024, my involvement in judging and attending the Markel 3rd Sector Awards was a joy. The entries I read and finalists we met all had immensely inspiring stories to tell, and the winner in the 2024 Dementia Category was an example so powerful it made me cry. I wished with all my heart that my dad (and everyone with dementia) had access to the services Alzheimer’s Support in Wiltshire provide. I loved their work so much I visited one of their clubs in September with Liz Jones from the National Care Forum and wrote about that experience for Care Management Matters Magazine last month. Do have a read.
Controversies…
On the flip-side of inspiring was, for me, Alzheimer’s Society’s ‘The Long Goodbye film’ which was released in March 2024. Social media exploded with arguments for and against the film as I reflected here on LinkedIn. The fact that the film was re-launched in August, with timing relatable to the news about one of the new generation of Alzheimer’s drugs, lecanemab, not being available on the NHS (pending the outcome of a NICE consultation), was for me another error of judgement. My view is that airing this film once was a mistake, and I personally prefer to avoid repeating mistakes whenever possible!
Ironically, the last blog I wrote on D4Dementia, in October 2023, was entitled ‘The dementia film debate’, inspired by an animated film – Change the ending – that Alzheimer’s Research had released at that time. Sadly, Alzheimer’s Research chose to relaunch that film in October 2024.
Personally, having worked in communications for many years, I think the narrative being pursued by some dementia charities isn’t the one I would recommend if I was offering advice. I would, however, commend Dementia UK for the content they have put out this year – including an informative podcast and their ‘Dementia: What Next’ programme which continues in 2025.
Dementia Action Week and World Alzheimer’s Month
Sadly Dementia Action Week (#DAW2024) in May was rather overshaddowed by The Long Goodbye (it’s very hard to get supportive messages about symptom recognition, early diagnosis and positive post-diagnosis support options heard against a backdrop of a living death narrative). That said, I enjoyed working on both #DAW2024 and September’s World Alzheimer’s Month (#WAM2024), and my work on both can most widely be seen in the content produced by Dementia Community (I’ve curated the DC news feed for over a year now) and MacIntyre, who I support in multiple different ways, including with communications. One of the highlights with MacIntyre in September was launching their Dementia Pathway that I’d helped to create (all staff in all social care organisations should have support like this), and appearing on the Sui-Ling Show.
The biggest moment of joy
June 2024 was my special month, and worthy of an entire D4Dementia blog post that I never found time to write. Winning Outstanding Contribution to Dementia Care was a very emotional moment.
I truly never thought I would win and had put my jacket on ready to run for my train. I gave an unscripted, very emotional speech that I’ve still not been able to watch (it makes me cry whenever I start to watch it!), but I do remember that I dedicated the award to my dad and all the people I’ve met and worked with who live with dementia (dear Wendy and so, so many others).
There really aren’t words for a moment like that – it meant more to me than I can ever express.
More joy!
June proved to be a month for more awards success too, as I shared the night of 28 June with my lovely colleagues Jess and Nicky from MacIntyre (plus Rory, who supports Jess). We were double award winners for our co-designed and co-delivered Loss and Bereavement training.
A truly wonderful achievement that I entirely put down to Jess’ amazing work on creating and delivering this learning. If anyone needs proof that co-designed and co-delivered training is – and will always be – the way forward, this is it.
Wrapping up 2024…
The autumn flew by in a flurry of events and training (with some lovely feedback on our aforementioned Loss and Bereavement course), all of which you can read about in the news section on my website. Special mentions go to a wonderful night with BRACE (and another emotional speech!), having the opportunity to present twice at UK Dementia Congress – note the word ‘Bespoke’ in both presentation titles, a nod to my eternal belief that one size will never fit all – and another awards night when I was a finalist at the Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards.
One final 2024 signpost: Anyone whose read D4Dementia extensively or indeed followed my work will know I am a huge believer in the power of music, so do check out my interview with Playlist for Life and perhaps make 2025 the year you begin a playlist for yourself or someone you love.
As we reach the end of 2024, that’s a wrap on my news, except to say I’ve joined Bluesky if you want to follow me there. I remain on my other social platforms (Twitter – I refuse to call it X! – Facebook and LinkedIn).
Looking ahead to 2025…
I’d love to promise a return to regular D4Dementia blogs in 2025 but I just don’t want to add the pressure of blogging here to my hectic schedule. D4Dementia was always meant to be a pleasure to write and share my thoughts and I want to make sure it always stays that way. So, I’m not sure when I’ll write again, but I will. If there is a particular topic any reader would like me to address please do contact me.
2025 is looking like another busy year of training, consultancy, writing and speaking and so much more. Cnfirmed speaking engagements so far are Innovation in Care Summit in February, The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Show in March, and BRACE’s Let’s Talk Dementia in May.
I love hosting the Dementia Community webinars – I’m busy curating the 2025 programme and it’s full of things I feel are really important for families and professionals involved in dementia care and support to hear about, so do sign up for those sessions (they are free!) or watch them as recordings via the Dementia Community YouTube channel.
My children will keep me busy of course, and my mum is 85 now and things are changing with her. As my GP said to me recently: “You know what you are now, a sandwich carer.” It’s hard (a complete understatement) to come to terms with that (despite giving so many talks, presentations and speeches about being a carer for my dad), but that is a blog for another time.
For now I want to sign off with a motto that the whole of mankind really needs to embrace in 2025:
“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
Wishing you and yours a gentle, kind year ahead.
Until next time…
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