Why We Exist

After a family member is diagnosed with dementia, the overwhelming sense of abandonment and isolation is a common experience. You leave the hospital with a handful of leaflets and a bucket load of questions, unsure of where to turn for answers. This is the exact situation Dementia Life was created to alleviate.

After my mum was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s in March 2024, I didn’t know where to turn. Fortunately — or unfortunately, depending on how you see it — I learned more about dementia than most people my age. My mum had been a carer for people living with dementia her entire working life. When she was diagnosed, I knew what was coming.

I had absolutely no idea of the years that led to the care home. I didn’t know anything about the residents’ lives before they came to the care home. This is the untold story of dementia. The time between diagnosis and the possibility of residential care is the actual dark ages of dementia, only apparent to those who live it.

The Support Families Actually Need After a Diagnosis

If you’re feeling alone after a dementia diagnosis in your family, you’re not imagining it. The dementia family support after diagnosis available in the UK is, frankly, disappointing. Dementia Life is here to bring a bit of light to those dark ages.

Our in-person and online meetings give people currently dealing with a family member living with dementia the opportunity to speak freely and openly with others in the same situation. Many questions can only be honestly answered by people’s lived experiences, and we’re giving people that chance. We want you to be able to get answers to everything from

“What’s the best way to remind them to take their medication?”

to

“Realistically, how long do I have until they don’t remember me?”

It’s important to understand that everyone’s experience of dementia is unique. However, there are shared experiences that can bring us together. If you’re looking for a dementia support group for families in the UK that feels real — not clinical, not scripted — this is it.

From Isolation to Community

Everyone knows the age-old phrase “a problem shared is a problem halved.” Now, imagine if you could share with a whole group who understands everything you’re saying. They know exactly how you feel. This is the entire reason Dementia Life exists: we want to turn that feeling of isolation and loneliness into community.

Since Dementia Life launched, we’ve spoken to so many people who have a loved one living with dementia. Everyone’s story is different, every experience individual — however, we have always seen a single thread running through them: feeling alone. They don’t feel like anyone would fully understand if they spoke about it. More importantly, these people aren’t looking for sympathy. They don’t want pity or someone to feel for them. What they really crave is to feel seen.

Dementia Life provides peer support for dementia carers in the UK that caters for every member of the family. We know that if your husband or wife has been diagnosed with dementia, you’ll have a completely different experience than if your mum or dad has. We want people to come together, regardless of what they are facing, and share their experiences with others.

Having a family member living with dementia is tough. We are here to make that a little easier.