Living Through War, Living With Dementia

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode of the Tell Her podcast, Sharni sits down with her longest-standing client, an extraordinary woman now 87 years young who has truly lived through it all.Together, they explore her deeply personal journey navigating life alongside her beloved husband Ken, who was diagnosed with dementia. She speaks candidly about the broken care system, nearly losing their home to afford care, and the emotional toll of advocating for someone you love.But her story doesn’t stop there. She also takes us back to her childhood during World War II, sharing memories of rationing, evacuation, and the strength it took to grow up in such uncertain times.This conversation is a powerful reflection on resilience, love, and the importance of community. And spoiler alert it ran so long (and was so full of giggles and bloopers!) that we had to split it into two parts. Stay tuned for part two!00:00 Introduction to the Tell Her Podcast00:16 Life on the Move: From Hull to Kent01:25 Settling Down for the Kids01:43 Meeting Ken: A Love Story02:08 Navigating Early Marriage and Career07:58 Facing Dementia: Ken's Diagnosis16:08 Challenges of Caring for a Loved One30:50 The Struggles with Social Services33:53 Exploring Care Home Options35:02 Financial Struggles and Assessments36:18 Social Services and Housing Issues38:36 Systemic Issues and Personal Experiences49:40 Reflections on War and Rationing58:27 Advocating for Dementia Care01:05:37 Challenges of Aging and Socializing01:08:52 Struggles with Weekends01:09:25 Coping with Loneliness01:11:52 Cooking and Socializing01:16:15 Reflections on Life and Regrets01:22:11 Challenges with Dementia Care01:27:57 Advocating for Better Care01:40:00 Concluding Thoughts🧠 What is Dementia?Alzheimer’s Association gives a comprehensive definition and explanation: “Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life.” wired.com+8dementiauk.org+8england.nhs.uk+8alz.org+1alz.org+1NHS’ dementia guide explains causes, symptoms, diagnosis, living well, and care pathways. nhs.ukNIH / Alzheimer’s.gov notes dementia is an umbrella term for progressive neurological conditions—not a normal part of ageing. my.clevelandclinic.org+13nia.nih.gov+13nhsinform.scot+13🧬 Types of DementiaDementia UK lists the most common forms: Alzheimer’s, vascular, Lewy body, frontotemporal, and mixed dementia. en.wikipedia.org+8dementiauk.org+8 ABOUT YOUR HOST — SHARNI KNIGHTON I’m Sharni Knighton, the creator and host of Tell Her. I was inspired to start this podcast after meeting so many extraordinary ordinary women through my hair loss and wig clinic. I wanted to give these women a space to share their stories and help them realize that what they see as “ordinary” is truly extraordinary.As an educator, I also train stylists in the hair loss industry around the world — and I’m passionate about showing them who these incredible women are. I believe you should only step into this work if you’re ready to truly help and connect with the women you serve.✨ Connect with my work:Hair Loss & Wig Clinic → www.sharniknighton.co.ukTraining Academy → www.sharniknightonacademy.comIntelliMESH Product Line → www.intellimesh.co.uk✨ Follow on social:TikTok → @sharniknightonPodcast TikTok → @tell.her.podcast