Take a look at our previous episode

We spoke to Hannah Gardner, Dementia UK’s Consultant Admiral Nurse for Children and Young People, and a long-time friend, about her mum's young onset dementia diagnosis and what it's meant for both her and the families she now supports professionally.

Across two parts we dig into the anxiety that comes with a young onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis, feeling out of step with your peers as your relationship with a parent starts to change, and the isolation that comes with grief no one else your age is carrying yet. We talk about the stigma around the word "dementia" itself, why so many people avoid saying it, and why we think it needs to be said more, especially when people insist a parent "looks fine."

Hannah shares a lot about her role as an Admiral Nurse and how she educates children on dementia. We explore why kids' natural curiosity deserves honest answers rather than avoidance, and what it's like working with families who'd rather not have that conversation at all. We explore dementia as a progressive, terminal condition and what it means to sit with that truth while still supporting someone with a diagnosis. Hannah shares how grief and work have come to coexist for her, how she supports adults so they can better support children, and the value of connecting with people who have lived experience rather than just clinical knowledge. We close on why using our lived experiences to support others has given us a chance to turn something devastating into something beautiful.