What’s it like to care for someone with dementia?

Carers regularly tell us how they often feel invisible and how they wish other people had more understanding of what it’s like to care for someone living with dementia.

We’ve spent several months working with a film maker to create a short film which shares some truths about what it can be like to care around the clock for someone you live with who has dementia.

Everything you see and hear has been informed by dementia carers’ experiences.

We chose to work with actors as we didn’t want to film with people who may have been unable to give informed consent to their involvement.

We follow David caring for his wife Margaret and Sarah caring for her mum Elaine. David is retired. Sarah is struggling to juggle work and caring.

How their days unfold is shaped by what carers have told us about their daily routines.

The script is based on direct quotes from carers themselves.

What you see on screen is based on what carers have told us they would have to hand in a particular room.

The emotions shared reflect how carers tell us they feel.

We chose to focus the shots on David and Sarah as carers and their emotions. We wanted to show the impact of caring on people who are doing their very best, often with too little or no other support. This takes a toll. This causes exhaustion. Days can feel endless and repetitive.

But we didn’t want to lose sight of the love and connection that underpins why people keep going. Despite how hard it can be.

And we wanted to pay tribute to carers’ resilience and determination to keep going.

We want this film to prompt conversation. At a time when we’re being asked as a society what are our expectations for social care and support. At a time when dementia is on the increase and one in two of us will either need dementia care ourselves, or provide care to someone else.

Are we expecting too much of families and individuals?

How do you think care should be provided? In England, the government has launched a Big Conversation on Care and wants to know how you’d like to be supported.

Whatever your situation and whoever you are caring for, we want dementia carers to know that they are not alone. We’re here to help.

There are opportunities for you to show your support for dementia carers either by campaigning with us for changes to available support or by donating to us so more dementia carers can access support including online peer support groups and personal counselling sessions.

We can all make a difference to dementia carers today and change what support is available to dementia carers in future.