‘Having just passed the first anniversary of my wife’s death after caring for her for over 12 years with familial early onset dementia, I thought it right to share some reflections in the hope that these might help those living with dementia and carers.’ Stuart and Carol Jennings have contributed a vast amount to the field of dementia research over the past four decades. Sadly, Carol was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and died in 2024. @Stuart1642 shares some reflections from the time he spent caring for his wife: ‘The need to walk away, if safe to do so, into another room for a short break when things get fraught.’ ‘To focus on the things that empowered me, not on those that drain me. It was difficult, but I focused on our good years together instead of our loss.’ ‘Self-care is essential, including periods of respite. I fail my loved one if I neglected to do this.’ ‘The need to cultivate an interest alongside the caring, because this can be helpful to overcome the sense of emptiness that followed her death.’ If you’re caring for or have cared for someone living with dementia, what would your reflections say? Read Stuart’s blog ‘Reflections as a carer’ in full 👇 alzheimers.org.uk/blog/stuar… #CarersWeek

Another incredible achievement for an inspirational family as ‘The Jennings vs Alzheimer’s’ wins the #GriersonAward for Best Science Documentary. We’ll be forever grateful for the vital contribution Carol and her family have made to dementia research.