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Last week I had the joy of attending the UK Dementia Congress in Manchester, and I've come home absolutely buzzing. There's something incredibly powerful about spending time with people who truly get it - people living with dementia, family supporters, researchers, clinicians, innovators, and campaigners. For a few days, Manchester felt like the capital city of dementia expertise, experience, and hope. I learned new things.  I met inspiring people.  I had meaningful conversat

Where True Co-production Really Begins: Beyond the "Nice to Have" For too long, the term "co-production"  has been treated by many organisations as a desirable, almost altruistic add-on, a "nice to have" flourish applied late in the project lifecycle. This mindset is fundamentally flawed and undermines the transformative power of genuine collaboration. True co-production doesn't begin with a late-stage consultation, a feedback form, or a final review. It begins at the moment

Navigating an uncertain road, this image highlights the critical intersection of driving, dementia, and dignity, urging a re-evaluation for safer journeys ahead. Hello, as my regular readers will know, I live here in the UK with early-stage dementia. I'm writing this because every time that brown envelope from the DVLA lands on my mat, my heart sinks. It's not just the fear of losing my independence, though that is huge; it's the indignity of the assessment process itself. Th

The Human Library As a person living with dementia, I know that the most valuable thing I can still offer is my experience . Not the kind you get from a textbook or a training course, but the kind that comes from living each day with the condition, navigating its challenges, and discovering new ways to adapt, cope, and thrive. That's why I love the idea of a "Human Library" —a place where people like me are the books , and others, such as researchers, designers, students, or

Reflections on nearly seven years of living with dementia Nearly seven years! It feels like yesterday I was sitting in that Consultant's...

Introduction When I was diagnosed with dementia, one of my first thoughts was, "Is there anything I can do to help myself?" Like many...