This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
“What I Wish People Knew About Dementia” by Wendy Mitchell is an insightful and powerful memoir that provides readers with a unique perspective on the experience of living with dementia. Written by a person living with dementia, this book offers a firsthand account of the challenges and triumphs that come with this condition.
Wendy Mitchell spent twenty years as a non-clinical team leader in the NHS before being diagnosed with Young Onset Dementia in July 2014 at the age of fifty-eight. Shocked by the lack of awareness about the disease, both in the community and in hospitals, she vowed to spend her time raising awareness about dementia and encouraging others to see there is life after a diagnosis. She is now an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society. She has two daughters and lives in Yorkshire.
Wendy Mitchell’s writing is honest, raw, and deeply personal. She shares her own story of being diagnosed with early-onset dementia at the age of 58 and the impact that it has had on her life. She details the struggles of losing her ability to remember things, the difficulty of communicating, and the isolation that can come with dementia. Through her words, readers gain a deep understanding of what it is like to live with dementia and the impact that it can have on a person’s life.
One of this book’s most powerful aspects is how Wendy Mitchell humanises dementia. She shows that people living with dementia are not just “patients” or “sufferers” but real people with real lives. She speaks candidly about the fear, frustration, and sadness that can come with dementia but also about the hope and joy that can be found in the small moments. Mitchell’s book is a powerful reminder that people living with dementia are still human and that they deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.
This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of dementia and its impact on a person’s life. Wendy Mitchell’s writing is powerful and thought-provoking, and her story is one that will stay with readers long after they finish the book. It’s an important read for anyone who wants to learn more about dementia, whether they are a family member, a carer, a healthcare professional or simply someone who wants to be more informed. As my mother lived with dementia, I found myself saying throughout this book, “I wish I had known that as I would have been able to help more.”
Wendy Mitchell’s book is a powerful reminder that dementia is not just a medical condition, it’s a life-changing journey, and we must be more empathetic to those who are going through it.
Overall, “What I Wish People Knew About Dementia” is a powerful, thought-provoking, and emotional read that offers a unique perspective on the experience of living with dementia. Wendy Mitchell’s writing is honest, raw, and deeply personal, and her story is one that will stay with readers long after they finish the book. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of dementia and its impact on a person’s life.
The publisher, Bloomsbury, has kindly offered to send a free book to the first two readers to write a comment about dementia under this post explaining why they would like to read this book.
PLEASE NOTE: Entrants should live in the UK or Ireland.