DIRECTOR FOR INFO FILM
what he went through with his mother and dementia so I was more than happy to come aboard.
“My wife’s gran Nelly had it and passed away just before my daughter was born six years ago. To see her gran going through that was really tough.”
Stuart’s mum started showing symptoms of dementia in 2013. He and his two brothers looked after her. He said: “At first, we were referred to a memory clinic and that first visit hit me like a train because she couldn’t answer any of the questions and that was horrific to watch.
“She had a good social care package in place but that became unsustainable when she started experiencing visual hallucinations and she thought there were people in her house so was unable to live alone.
“She moved into a specialist dementia unit and then a care home. But she was very unhappy because she would have great periods of lucidity when she knew exactly where she was and what was happening to her.”
Stuart gave up his job to spend time with her in her final months, in 2015. He then had an idea of making the short film.
With the backing of the Dementia Services Development Trust, he teamed up with actor friend Neil Leiper for the film. Stuart said the project was part of the healing process.
He added: “It’s still painful, you’re never going to slay that dragon but if you give it a kicking, out of something really bad, you can do something good and that helps you.”
Barbara said: “Dementia robs you like a grand larceny, it takes everything and you get angry. It’s such a hard thing to deal with.
“The film is also to honour everyone who has been in that position or is going through that now.”
We Need to Talk About Dementia is available now at www. dementiatrust. org.uk/ projects/ wnttad/