“I was often overwhelmed as a carer”

When Jenny’s husband Noel was diagnosed with dementia, the couple vowed that they would manage it with grace despite the challenges they both faced as Noel’s condition progressed.

“I was often overwhelmed as a carer – Noel was always aware of that and very supportive,” she said.

Jenny has shared her story in the latest season of Dementia Australia’s podcast Hold the Moment, which focuses on the experiences of caring for a loved one living with dementia.

She hoped that sharing her story would help other carers feel less isolated and overwhelmed.

“Listening to other people’s experiences helped me at the time – people’s stories are always the ones that teach and inspire,” Jenny said.

“The podcast offers the opportunity to share stories on a deeper level – it’s more raw and real because it’s a more extensive conversation.”

“And, there is also a wealth of resources packed into the podcast.”

There are more than 1.7 million people involved in the care of the 433,000 Australians living with dementia, so the demand for support for carers is high.

Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said the Hold the Moment podcast was just one of the ways that the organisation was providing support, information and services for carers.

“We had an incredible response to the first season of our podcast, where we shared stories of people living with dementia, so we wanted to provide the same support for family carers,” Professor Buchanan said.

“Carers are generally family members – partners, children or siblings – so while they see it as their role to care for their loved one, we also know it can be challenging,” she said.

“The overwhelming popularity of the first season was a clear message that people impacted by dementia valued hearing about real life stories and that the podcast was a valuable support as it is jam-packed with resources, valuable tips and advice.”

About the podcast

Dementia Australia’s Hold the Moment podcast is full of stories about life after a dementia diagnosis.

It is co-hosted by Jim Rogers, who lives with younger onset dementia, and Dementia Australia Ambassador, journalist Hamish Macdonald, whose father lived with dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s.

The podcast is available on podcasts apps, the Dementia Australia website and Dementia Australia’s YouTube channel.

Looking for support?

The Hold the Moment podcast is just one of the ways Dementia Australia supports people impacted by dementia.

If you would like support or advice about caring for a loved one with dementia, or any other dementia-related query, contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or via our live chat.

The Dementia Australia Library provides free access to a comprehensive collection of print and digital resources about dementia and is available to everyone.

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