Unheard Voices – Gerry King
Willy chats so his good friend Gerry King about when Gerry was diagnosed with Early Onset Dementia. Gerry gives a very honest account of how this affected himself and his family but concludes by saying ‘It’s not a death sentence’.
Unheard Voices – Audrey Ross
Audrey shares her story of her Early Onset Dementia with her friend Willy who she met through STAND in Fife. Audrey’s grandchildren explain her diagnosis as ‘It’s OK Gran we ken your brain’s broken’ which is fine by Audrey as she feels ‘If you get diagnosed with dementia, it’s not the end of the world it’s just a new way of life’.
Unheard Voices – Ron Coleman
Ron Coleman the self-named ‘Demented Poet’ chats to his pal Willy whose been nicknamed ‘The Demented Artist’ about Ron’s Early Onset Dementia diagnosis. Ron chats about all the dark places of dementia including incontinence and death but also comments ‘I might be demented but I’m enjoying being an artist that I probably wouldn’t be if I hadn’t got dementia’.
Unheard Voices – Jake Sutherland
I was diagnosed with FTD at 65. My whole life changed, I lost my driver’s licence, and a job I loved as a janitor in a primary school. I was the person who kept my family financially secure, but that stopped. All I could see was the end of life but I have begun another life, with a positive outlook. I just turned 67 and have never been busier. I wrote a book about the 1st year post diagnosis – Finding Jake, written as pen name, Peedie William, helping me come to terms with life.
Unheard Voices – Christina Hobbs
‘I think my dementia started after an accident where I fell and hurt my head badly. It was after this I started to forget things and struggle with day-to-day life.
I met STAND and have never looked back. My friend Ellis is my main source of support. She is wonderful. Everyone should have an Ellis!’
A bold mini commission Willy Gilder’s ‘Unheard Voices’
‘Unheard Voices’ is a bold mini commission from ‘retired’ radio journalist Willy Gilder who realised “The voices of people with dementia are rarely heard and they deserve to be’.
Willy, who lives with Alzheimer’s, set off around Scotland interviewing his peers living with Dementia, talking about themselves, their lives, and what they would like people to know about their condition.
