Hello Everyone 👋

My name is Felicity, and I’m a passionate advocate for the WeTalkCare platform. My commitment stems from my personal and professional experiences as a support worker, healthcare assistant, and NHS staff member.

In addition to these paid roles, I was also a part-time carer for my grandma, who had vascular dementia. My mum, who lived with my grandparents at the time, found herself in a particularly challenging position as a full-time carer. Both my grandparents had vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s, and my mum balanced her caregiving role alongside working as a retail assistant.

Being a full-time carer was isolating for my mum. With no external support and only family like myself to rely on, she faced immense pressure every single day. My grandad, an ex-naval gunnery officer, was deeply proud and valued his independence. Because of this, he didn’t want carers in his home or to visit day centres. Instead, he kept himself busy by sticking to familiar routines—visiting the same shops, taking the same bus routes into town, and eating at the same café. The shopkeepers became familiar faces and an essential part of his daily life.

While this routine kept my grandma active, things changed drastically at dusk or when my mum was at work. My grandma often became agitated, confused, and repetitive, which must have been incredibly hard for my grandad to witness. With his Alzheimer’s, he would sometimes lose patience and shout, which only added to the strain.

There were moments when my grandma would wander off, feeling disoriented and confused.

On several occasions, the police found her and return her home, which was a heartbreaking and stressful experience for us all.

These experiences taught me how essential it is to have a strong support system in place for carers and their loved ones. Platforms like WeTalkCare are invaluable for providing that support and creating a sense of community for those who often feel alone in their caregiving journey.

I will share more of experience and tips we discovered as family carers