The reality of dementia in lockdown

Rita Temple

Prior to lockdown, my 97 year old mother who has advanced dementia, recognised me. She called me darling and told staff i was her daughter. My role was to check that she was being treated well and was provided with the few remaining things that made her life bearable, such as familiar classical music. I was her voice. Now she doesn’t have a clue who I am. I have seen her just 3 times since lockdown. She has no one to sit and hold her hand. This once highly intelligent, loving woman has no one.