Caring for someone with dementia can be exhausting, frightening and overwhelming. Yet according to BlueCare dementia consultant Sherri Thomas, understanding dementia can help families and carers find moments of meaning and joy, even as circumstances change.
“Dementia is called the long goodbye and it's often seen as something negative," she says.
"But there can also be beautiful moments of joy and closeness if you know where to look for them and how to approach them.”
Sherri’s book, The Long Goodbye Hello, brings this message to life, offering practical guidance and strategies to help families and carers better understand dementia and maintain meaningful connections throughout the journey.
Rather than focusing on what has been lost, the book encourages readers to understand the reasons behind changes in behaviour and communication and to explore new ways of connecting with the person they love.
"Carers carry so much of the weight of the dementia journey, often with little guidance or support," Sherri says. “When people understand what is happening and learn new ways to respond, it can make a remarkable difference to their everyday lives.”
The book offers practical, achievable strategies families can use at home, along with reassurance that moments of happiness, purpose and togetherness remain possible throughout the dementia journey.
"You can’t change dementia, but you can change how it feels.”
For Sherri, improving understanding of dementia is about supporting not only those living with the condition, but also the people who walk alongside them every day.
