My grandmother Jean was an accomplished knitter and taught me as a young girl how to knit. After she was diagnosed with dementia, I picked it up again in a subconscious effort to be closer to her and keep her in my thoughts. Today, she is still a tangible part of my knitting practice even though she’s no longer with us. 

Watching someone going through dementia and its related illnesses is, I believe, one of the hardest things to experience for those around that person. It’s not linear, or simple, and is often a very long period of degeneration. We were very lucky that we were able to Gram into specialist care, and that she remained very calm and almost serene until the end. But seeing her forget more and more, and watching elements of her disappear was heartbreaking, especially for my father, her youngest son.

So this November I am fundraising in memory of my grandmother, who passed away in 2021. 

Dementia UK is the specialist dementia nurse charity. Our nurses, called Admiral Nurses, provide life-changing care to families affected by all forms of dementia, including Alzheimers disease. They help people with dementia stay independent for longer, and support the people caring for them so they have the strength to cope with the bad days, and the energy to enjoy the good days. They have the time to listen and the knowledge to solve problems, helping families take back control when they are struggling.