Dementia Journeys

Dementia Sphere is an inclusive platform capturing the experience of caregivers primarily in the

South Asian community

Dementia Sphere is about creating a space and platform where caregivers and family members of those living with dementia can seek information, advice and share experiences. Aside from my personal story on my mother and our journey with her Alzheimer's Dementia, the overall objective is to share stories of others, including other family members and dementia advisors. There will also be recipes with associated food memories and discussions around issues that a diagnosis brings to light. Examples of these issues include Care Support, Financial Planning, Safeguarding etc. to name but a few.

Hi I’m Nazia, a management consultant/researcher by profession and an avid baker. I was born and brought up in London, England to Indian parents who moved from Assam, India in the mid 1950’s. We were a small family unit of four; my parents, my younger sister and me, until April 21st, 2020. That is when my mother passed away from Alzheimer's Dementia and COVID and I became the last person standing! The intention was to write this piece about her then, more for myself as a cathartic exercise to read and re-read when I felt the need to do so. However, it was too raw then and I just couldn’t’ focus on it and left it in my 'to do' box.

In November 2023 whilst trying to develop new recipes for another venture, writer's block crept in. I felt the universe was trying to tell me it was time; time to write our story. Why me you may ask after all I’m not a writer or an author? The only writing I had previously undertaken was academic and business writing and the odd poems about grief as well as at university about my team escapades.

Friends and family members had commented earlier that my situation was unusual and documenting my story might actually resonate with others, so it made sense to share it. However, I realised whilst writing it that not only did our journey have moments of sadness, frustration, anger and joy, but there was so much more to both our lives than mum's diagnosis. She loved to cook, bake, sew, knit, was an avid tennis and snooker fan and adored tending to her garden when she had the time. Most of her life was spent looking after my sister who had special needs so she rarely had time for anything else. I, on the other hand was a free bird that loved to travel, read, write and bake. I hope by sharing our story it may resonate in some parts with other care givers and family members of persons living with dementia. It also dawned on me that a personal story would not suffice and it needed to be part of a holistic drive to create further awareness especially amongst the South Asian community and provide an environment for sharing thoughts, ideas and experiences.  It would thereby, harness the strength of others working to a common goal of helping those in this predicament. I decided to launch this website as a tribute to my mother, after her passing.

Meet Nazia

Sometimes all it takes is a person to reach out their hand, have a coffee with you, and let them know they are there for you.

Upon diagnosis, my mother was assigned a Dementia Advisor; Shuhala Abbas, whose advice and knowledge was invaluable.  Towards the end of my mother's journey, Shuhala became my support system.  I have the pleasure of being in touch with her even now despite my mother no longer being around and in this post she discusses her perspective on our journey.

Dementia Advisor to the rescue!!