Podcast

169: Getting creative about dementia with Shelle Luscombe

Shelle Luscombe is an entertainer, a singer, a presenter, a voiceover artist. She turned 50 in 2021 and she set out to have 50 memorable experiences. She also wanted to raise money for a cause very close to her heart, having two copies of the Alzheimer’s risk gene and having lost both parents to dementia. Three years on, she’s raised over £12,000 pounds. 

She’s been on daytime TV and came close to winning a national award for her creative fundraising efforts. She’s determined to live life to the full and continue campaigning for a cure for dementia. 

We talk about:

  • The inspiration behind the 50 challenges
  • Shelle’s TV appearance and the power of PR
  • Wacky challenges: unicycles, stand-up comedy, hair cutting and more
  • The tragedy of dementia and personal risk
  • Shelle’s musical journey and album release
  • Living life to the fullest and Shelle’s determination
  • The challenges of dementia care
  • Seeking a new future and navigating midlife challenges
  • Good days and bad days
  • Supporting others through similar experiences
  • Being willing to pivot
  • Being willing to challenge ourselves
  • Understanding dementia, Alzheimer’s and other related illnesses
  • Rachel’s cat’s first appearance on the podcast
  • The wonder of cats
  • Lucifer as a name for a cat
  • Difficulties of accessing support
  • Hope for the future

And more!

Shelle’s website: shelleluscombe.co.uk

Listen to Shelle’s album

Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Linkedin

Shelle’s 50 Challenges At 50

Video of the funny bunny challenge mentioned in the podcast

Why not explore more…

Caring for a loved one with dementia with Carolyn Birrell

Carolyn Birrell shares her own journey navigating her mother’s path into dementia, so that others may be better prepared.

Coping with dementia

Coping with dementia with Feyi Raimi-Abraham

An interview with Feyi Raimi-Abraham, founder of a fabulous new company called The Black Dementia Company, set up during lockdown and inspired into creation by caring for her mother who has dementia.

Giggling about incontinence with Elaine Miller

Meet pelvic physio turned stand-up comedian Elaine Miller otherwise known as Gusset Grippers. She’s on a mission to stop incontinence!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and maybe leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you’re listening.  Thank you!

Find out how to leave a review here.

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Podcast

125: Caring for a loved one with dementia with Carolyn Birrell

Carolyn Birrell

Carolyn Birrell is the author of Walking with Fay, a moving book about her mother’s uncharted path into dementia. Carolyn’s writing began as a way to help her make sense of what was happening and quickly turned into the book she herself had needed, to provide relatable caregiving help. It’s a beautiful, empowering book and I really loved it.

We talk about:

  • What led Carolyn to write such a personal and difficult book
  • Why it took so long to realize how bad things had got with her mother
  • The process of learning her mother had dementia and the early signs
  • Working out what level of interference in her mother’s affairs was appropriate
  • Coming to terms with realizing more help with caregiving was required
  • The kind of support that was needed and how Carolyn found that both for her mother and herself
  • Coping with a lack of recognition from her mother
  • The impact of the global pandemic on her mother’s care
  • What readers can expect from the book
  • Carolyn’s advice for people who fear they are starting to see signs of a parent’s dementia
  • Learning what to say and what not to say to a person with dementia
  • What makes the book different from other memoirs
  • What Carolyn hopes readers will get from the book
  • Carolyn’s advice for anyone just beginning on this path with their loved one

And more!

Find more about Carolyn:

Carolyn’s website: carolynbirrell.com

Linkedin | Instagram | Facebook

Carolyn’s book: Walking with Fay: My Mother’s Uncharted Path into Dementia

Walking with Fay: My Mother's Uncharted Path into Dementia

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and maybe leave a review on iTunes or wherever you’re listening.

Find out how to leave a review here.

Carolyn Birrell
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coping with dementia
Podcast

60: Coping with dementia with Feyi Raimi-Abraham

Feyi Raimi-Abraham

An interview with Feyi Raimi-Abraham, founder of a fabulous new company called The Black Dementia Company, set up during lockdown and inspired into creation by caring for her mother who has dementia.

We talk about:

• Why Feyi felt there was a need for this company
• How lockdown accelerated that need
• What she hopes to achieve with the company
• What it’s like caring for her mother
• When she first noticed signs of dementia in her mother
• How the dementia progressed
• How Feyi adapted to being her mother’s full time carer
• Adjusting to her mother as a new person having been a strong, very active and independent woman in her past
• The impact on Feyi’s wider family
• The systems and tools she’s put in place to support her mum
• Advice for people who suspect there may be an issue with their loved one and especially their parent
• How can family best support the person diagnosed with dementia
• Getting rid of the stigma of dementia
• Looking out for signs of dementia
• Simple tests that can be done to check for dementia
• What Feyi has learnt about herself from becoming her mother’s carer
• What Feyi would like listeners to know about dementia

And more!

Find more about Feyi:

The Black Dementia Company

Instagram and Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and leave a review
on iTunes or wherever you’re listening.  Thank you!

Find out how to leave a review here.

 

 

 

 

Feyi Raimi-Abraham

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