you what does it feel like to live with dementia the experience of living with dementia is often a challenging one the more people's emotions and perspectives are understood the better they can be supported this film introduces four people who are able to share their insights on living with advancing dementia insights that were filmed over time and which were not always easily communicated I wake up and I feel afraid to get out what am I going to face today what's going to go wrong cuz I've always got this thing in my often get this thing in my mind to say you have done something you've broken something you've lost something you aren't any good to anybody why are you here I get that a lot oh it's awful you get to the stage where you don't want to talk to people in case you repeat yourself I couldn't go outside and go to a shovels and anything I died it all I couldn't do it I used to do it all right one day it seems to get a bit harder and harder every year and there were things like this well you don't feel as if you're in the world least I didn't I didn't feel as I was part of the world makes you feel defeated what good am I in this world run doing duckling one sit down here and be fed and sleep wash and like it like an animal let me live Barry has live with dementia for more than 15 years he's aware of the changes within his life and is still both able to articulate this and importantly express how he feels about it or when I came home last night and I went there Angie said she wanted a cup - alone they got one minute so I haven't made the tea but I couldn't remember which cupboard with which I couldn't remember where the jam goes where the sugar goes where's the milk was that and I was a good swimmer - this is my kitchen I actually manage butcher shops I still run a care home I actually drive all over the country giving lectures on me here I am a Catholic of tea Olive who has lived in a care home for two years describes her feelings about dementia awful it's terrible because you're hurting the people you love most dementia you really are it makes you feel very guilty bob has received full-time care for two years he talks about how dementia has changed his life inward concentration I can't seem that concentrated on one thing for very long I don't think you realize how it hits you Bob symptoms include hallucinations a mistaken beliefs which his wife Sally explains when he gets hallucinations they're extremely real to him he sees things that aren't actually happening we've had problems where he his rooms been on fire and he's had to get out shortly before Bob moved into a care home there were two occasions when he found himself on the roof of his house and twice I I got up on a roof walked across the roof of the house I don't know what made me do it that's the difficult part he can't explain it pouring him says it happened and you did it one o'clock in the morning it's quite frightening Judy was diagnosed with dementia 11 years ago she experiences problems with visual perception and is often disorientated but where am I here at night like I never thought up Who I am got that one down um where are you here ya know what where the place is this gazed Judy's daughter Karen knows her mother so well that she understands Judy's needs and feelings even when Judy can't find the words she wants to express herself in ways that she just can't anymore she wants to do things that she just can't do anymore but because she still has a little bit of insight it makes it really difficult because she still knows the things she wants to do but she just can't do them why you sad man looking back looking back why does it make me sad looking back oh I don't know probably I should have done other things just you can't do anything about it that's the thing people can feel powerless in the face of dementia well it's like a silent illness and it is the sort of thing that creeps up on you yeah there is a feeling of loneliness but dementia stolen I had no root no understanding that there was communist this thing is going to attract my mind I had no idea that any anything could attack my mind if you know I mean other people yes but not me didn't occur to happen to me and it's just like a persistent spy on us someone who is not recognizable but his his affection what he leaves behind him and what he's and Frances are noticeable dementia is sometimes portrayed is taking away a person's identity Judy was asked if she feels this is true for her Oh dozens you are what yeah that would be I be the same exact leg Susan and what I was so it's just it no it's still me it's still me it's unjust sin it's horrible because she was so young being diagnosed with Alzheimer's but then you know that bits of her do still shine through and she still is my mum Barry is also clear on this point yeah I'm a man it's me and I am me I'm my wife husband and my son's dad and it seems to me that most people oh she got dementia that's sort of like a full stop and the sentence end the discussion she's got dementia or he's senile supportive relationships with families friends and professional carers play a key role in helping people with dementia live well they're very caring and I get big hugs from my husband my children and and s alright man you forgot something that's all doesn't matter here we are then it's all sorted out again if you see the sister to stay here and help help me and just just to be always been friends easily yeah friends before the romance so I think then you do stay in another relationship because the depth is there but he still the Bob I fell in love with and I still love he's still that person underneath everything for people with dementia as with any individual's empathy and support can help to retain their sense of identity as well as enhance their well-being and quality of life if I could say one thing and somebody who's got dementia or a carer that would be probably hang on in there because they really do need you and they have feelings and totally understand what you're saying and one thing if I walk into the room I mom can't see me she hears my voice within a split second if I say hello to somebody she knows that I'm there and it means so much to them hello you