Living Well With Dementia

Sufferer Joy works hard to help others, but also enjoys life

“I chose to go out there and and make a difference”

Joy Watson is a Dementia Friends Champion, trained to run sessions for people becoming Dementia Friends, letting them know about the impact of dementia and what they can do to help. She is also one of the Alzheimer’s Society’s four ambassadors living with dementia.

“My symptoms started in my late 40s with a sort of general clumsiness. Then I started forgetting specific, short-term things and it just deteriorated from there. Having nursed people with dementia for years, I was well versed in the things to look for but I still brushed it under the carpet.

“I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s on my 55th birthday. It was all a bit devastating, especially as my husband Tony planned to take early retirement and I was planning all sorts of things with our grandchildren. I just decided I didn’t want to face this, thank you very much. I stayed in on the sofa for two months.

“But then I realised I had two options. I could stay on the sofa or I could get out there and maybe make a difference for other people. I realised there was a need for a local group that supported younger people with dementia. Three of us started one and there are almost 30 members now!

“We meet weekly and do activities relevant to younger people. Everyone comes with the freedom of knowing we can be ourselves, acknowledging we have good days and bad days. So if I spill my drink all over the floor it really does not matter. We all support each other.

“I have been working hard to raise awareness and to challenge perceptions of dementia in the community. I set up Dementia Havens, which work with local businesses and organisations to create a dementia-friendly community. We’ve held fundraising and awareness events involving families to show that people with dementia are still up for having a good time.”

Joy’s work has been recognised with an honorary doctorate by the Salford Institute for Dementia.

“Some days my brain sometimes just won’t do what I need it to do and I get really frustrated, but then someone will ring and say, ‘Can you come and give us a little talk?’ and those feelings disappear.” WWW.DEMENTIAFRIENDS.ORG.UK

“We show that people with dementia are still up for having a good time”