I speak about dementia from the place where much of it is actually lived — at home.

My talks and awareness sessions draw on years of lived home-care experience across different people, families and dementia journeys.

I talk about the things families often discover only after they are already living them: the early changes that are difficult to explain, repeated questions, resistance, changing routines, loss of confidence, family exhaustion, communication difficulties and the gradual shift from being a husband, wife, daughter or son to becoming a caregiver.

My aim is to make dementia easier to understand in everyday human language.

Through stories and practical examples from home life, I help people look beyond the diagnosis and think about the person: what they may be experiencing, what their behaviour may be communicating, and how changing our own approach can sometimes make everyday life easier.

Dementia awareness should not only teach us what dementia is. It should help us understand what it can feel like to live alongside it.

My talks and conversations can be shaped around the audience, but common themes include:

• When something starts to change — recognising the early signs without jumping to conclusions

• The period before diagnosis — living with uncertainty and not knowing what to do next

• Dementia at home — what families often aren't prepared for

• Communication beyond words — understanding repetition, resistance, frustration and behaviour

• Supporting without taking over — protecting independence, choice and involvement

• From partner, daughter or son to caregiver — recognising how family roles quietly change

• Small changes that can make everyday routines easier

• Caregiver exhaustion, boundaries and the importance of respite

• Seeing the person before the dementia

• What years inside different dementia households have taught me about care

These talks and awareness conversations are suitable for:

• Family caregivers, including those who may only just be beginning to recognise themselves as caregivers

• Community and support groups

• Faith groups and local organisations

• Care teams and organisations wanting to better understand dementia from the perspective of everyday home life

• Groups supporting older people and their families

• Anyone interested in understanding what living with dementia can look like beyond the clinical description

Sessions can be adapted to the audience, from informal conversations with small groups to more structured dementia awareness talks.

The aim is always the same: to leave people with something they can understand, remember and use in real life.