A final episode has been added to The Carers’ Centre’s series of podcasts that tell the dementia journey as seen by someone caring for a loved one with the condition.
The podcasts, produced in collaboration with Remind UK and Dorothy House Hospice Care, draw on Lynda’s real-life experiences, and are complemented with conversation between staff and volunteers, drawing on their many years of experience.
Released to coincide with Dementia Awareness Week (May 18 – 22 2026) the series ends with unpaid carer, Lynda, describing life without Brian, following his passing at a care home in late 2025.
“It’s very difficult to put into words, but the journey, from start to finish, was horrific. Losing the person you know and love, day by day is very difficult to come to terms with. But you realise that things are not going get any better and you’ve somehow or other, you’ve got to deal with that... Then all of a sudden, your life changes in a different way. The hardest thing was accepting that I can no longer go and see Brian as and when I like,” says Lynda.
Jenny Theed and Alex Hurley run Dementia Cafés – part of the life-changing suite of support services offered to unpaid carers by The Carers’ Centre, where they can connect and recharge – and where they met Lynda. Jenny has worked in the care service for over 43 years. She is Vice-Chair of The Carers’ Centre, a qualified nurse and health visitor. Alex Hurley is a retired nurse, worked as district nurse in the community for 25 years, and works in a dementia care home.
“Lynda’s story is significant, not because it’s unusual, more because it highlights the challenging journey that thousands of people are on when looking after a loved one with dementia,” says Jenny.
“The Dementia Cafes have proved invaluable, as they provide carers with a safe space to share their experiences and to explore ways of coping with the group members. This enables them to continue to provide their vital role to their loved ones, day in and day out.”
In the podcasts Jenny and Alex are joined by Melissa Hillier, Chief Exec of ReMind UK, and Esther Mackillican, an Admiral Nurse from Dorothy House Hospice Care, who joins the penultimate episode that covers end of life care.
The Carers’ Centre offers support in many different forms, to those caring for loved ones with dementia, including a regularly updated ‘Dementia Guide, produced by The Carers’ Centre’s knowledgeable Support Team. The guide provides a comprehensive overview of the support available in Bath and North East Somerset.
In addition to these resources focussing on dementia, people can go to the website if they are a carer looking for support, someone looking to volunteer, or an individual or business looking to make a donation. The Carer’s Centre relies on external funding to provide its wide-ranging support services.