Dementia Diaries is a UK-wide project that brings together people’s diverse experiences of living with dementia as a series of audio diaries. It serves as a public record and a personal archive that documents the views, reflections and day-to-day lives of people living with dementia, with the aim of prompting dialogue and changing attitudes.

Who are we working with?

We are all part of the Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project (DEEP). The Dementia Diaries initiative was designed by the non-profit communications agency On Our Radar (www.onourradar.org). It was launched by On Our Radar in January 2015 in partnership with Innovations in Dementia, Ownfone and Comic Relief, and was handed over to Innovations in Dementia in August 2016.

Phase 2 of the project is funded jointly by Comic Relief and BIG Lottery Fund.

A team from Leeds Beckett University was asked to evaluate the success of Dementia Diaries. A dementia-friendly summary of their findings is available here (pdf, opens in a new tab) or you can download the full report here (pdf, opens in a new tab).

The website provides the audio recording and a written transcript of each diary, you can volunteer to transcribe the audio diaries here

This weeks Diaries include:

 SKY DIVE SATURDAY FINALLY ARRIVES FOR WENDY – PART ONE

THE HAPPY TANDEMER REFLECTS ON A BUSY WEEK AND SOME GREAT NEWS.

DORY REFLECTS ON THE THINGS SHE HAS DONE SINCE HER DIAGNOSIS THAT SHE HAS NEVER DONE BEFORE – LIKE GOING ON A BIG MARCH IN LONDON!

JACQUI ON THE NEED TO HAVE GOOD NOTICE OF APPOINTMENTS.

SKY DIVE SATURDAY FOR WENDY – PART TWO

RAE IS TIRED AFTER A WORRYING NIGHT.

MELVYN IS DISAPPOINTED IN A LACK OF PROGRESS FOLLOWING AN AUDIT OF A VENUE.

JACQUI IS GETTING GREAT RESULTS FROM BEING CREATIVE.

WENDY HAS BEEN INVITED TO HOUSING 21 TO ENCOURAGE NEW DEMENTIA DIARISTS

THE HAPPY TANDEMER SAYS A BIG ‘THANK YOU’ TO DEEP.

STEPHEN HAS BEEN REALLY BUSY AND REPORTS ON A GREAT DAY AT THE LOST GARDENS OF HELIGAN.

JACQUI REPORTS ON THE FINAL MEETING OF THE DEAR GROUP.

WENDY SPEAKS TO SUE ABOUT WORKING AT HOUSING 21.

LATEST NEWS FROM ANTI GLENDA

HOWARD IS ALSO AT HOUSING 21 TO ENCOURAGE NEW DIARISTS

 

Note for Professionals

You can use these Diaries as part of your Dementia Training.

As a courtesy, please email Rachel Niblock at Niblock@myid.org.uk to let her know that you will be using some of the Diaries, it helps when applying for funding in the future.