14/10/2025
‘Dementia isn’t just for ‘old people’ - it isn’t age biased!’
Katrina’s mum was diagnosed with advanced dementia at the just 57. She is sharing her story to raise awareness that dementia affects younger people too, shouting the message that people shouldn’t be dismissed as ‘too young’ when they approach doctors with symptoms.
‘It was always mum and me. From a young age she provided me with a good life, sometimes working two or three jobs a time to make sure I got everything I needed.
‘My mum was always my queen and my best friend, she always will be.
‘I thought my mum would be a huge part in my current life. Never in a million years did I think the role of parent and child would be reversed almost overnight. But here we are.
‘My mum got diagnosed with advanced dementia at 57, who knew you could get so ill from it at that age? Not me nor most people around me. She doesn't have dementia - she's too young. Why is this happening to us?
‘My mum should be living life, seeing her grandchildren grow up and working and socialising, but instead she’s just a shadow of the independent woman who brought me up.
‘What can prepare you for this? How do I tell my children their nana is so unwell? How do I live without her?
‘You deal with feelings, emotions, resentment and guilt you never knew was in your body and the anticipatory grief is something that is not talked about or did I even know existed, I guess it’s a level of ignorance towards these kinds of diseases. You don’t know until you need to know!
‘Whilst my mum is clearly not the woman I deeply know and love dearly, we still enjoy our visits together, whether that's watching TV, walking and talking or playing loud music and having a silly dance, I leave and she smiles - for which I am grateful.’
