David's Story

I was a project manager in London, commuting from Luton every day, when mum's diagnosis came. Vascular dementia. The doctor said it would only progress, never improve. Within six months, she could not be left alone safely.

Leaving my career was not really a choice — it was what needed to happen. But I was not prepared for how isolating it would be. Friends stopped calling. My days shrank to the same four walls. I felt guilty for feeling resentful, and resentful for feeling guilty.

A friend told me about the peer support groups run by Carers in Luton. Walking into that room and hearing other people describe exactly what I was feeling was like a weight being lifted. I learned practical tips for managing mum's sundowning, and I finally had people who understood that caring is an act of love that can also be exhausting.