Still Me: Understanding Identity After a Dementia Diagnosis

If dementia alters how you express yourself, what you like, even how your senses work... what does it really mean to still be yourself after a diagnosis? Gwenda’s been living with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia since 2012, and yes, a lot has changed. Her sense of smell is different now. She’s recently moved into a residential aged care community. She lives day-to-day with a progressive neurological condition. But here’s the thing: Gwenda is also living some of the best years of her life. A fierce dementia advocate, and a woman who refuses to be flattened by assumptions, Gwenda is adamant that a dementia diagnosis doesn’t define who you are, and that there’s no single way to “do” dementia. “To assume that somebody living with dementia isn’t meeting the norms is about you not getting to know them,” Gwenda says. “It’s your problem, not theirs.” Gwenda sits down with hosts Jim and Hamish to talk frankly about identity, adaptation and why joy hasn’t disappeared from her life, it’s simply changed shape. They explore how carers and families can better understand the deeply individual ways dementia shows up and how curiosity, rather than fear, can transform relationships.   +++   Hold the Moment is a podcast from Dementia Australia, produced by Deadset Studios and hosted by Jim Rogers and Hamish Macdonald.   ABOUT THE GUESTS Gwenda is a proud Palawa woman, Dementia Australia Dementia Advocate and former member of the Aged Care Council of Elders. Diagnosed with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia in 2012, she has spent more than a decade challenging the stigma that often accompanies dementia.   NEED SUPPORT? Contact the National Dementia Helpline: 1800 100 500. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - funded by the Australian Government.   SERVICES & RESOURCES Find links, services and information from this episode via the Dementia Australia website.   EPISODE CREDITS Produced by Liam Riordan | Sound design by Slade Gibson | Executive producers: Sarah Dabro and Kellie Riordan | Production manager: Ann Chesterman   FOLLOW DEMENTIA AUSTRALIA Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn   Dementia Australia acknowledges and appreciates the support of the Australian Government for this initiative.