Charity's 'We Live with Dementia' campaign features Harpenden family

Clare Childs, along with her dad Colin Robson and five-year-old twins Rosie and Charlie, has been filmed and interviewed for the We Live with Dementia campaign, demonstrating how dementia affects a whole family.

So far, the campaign has resulted in 22,000 families sign up for help with the Dementia UK charity.

Clare Childs from Harpenden has told her family's story for the 'We Live with Dementia' campaign (Image: Courtesy of Clare Childs)Clare's mum Christine has been badly affected by the condition for six years, alongside earlier signs five years prior to her diagnosis.

Christine was only 67 when diagnosed in the mid stages of Vascular dementia.

Mum-of-two Clare said: "When your family is living with dementia, your whole world becomes insular.

"Mam went from going to parties and doing the flowers at church to not leaving the house. She has never understood her diagnosis.

"Nobody saw her decline or what we were going through as a family – it was all behind closed doors. Usually when someone is unwell, everyone is there to offer support. But with dementia, everyone disappears."

Dementia UK's 'We Live with Dementia' campaign features families from across the country (Image: Dementia UK)Vascular dementia is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, with symptoms including slowness of thought, difficulty with planning and understanding and problems with concentration.

"I’m taking part in the We Live with Dementia campaign because I know that having no support is horrendous," Clare continued.

"There is a lack of awareness of the help available from Dementia UK and it makes such a difference to speak to a dementia specialist who really understands what you’re going through. No family should have to go through dementia alone."

Clare, her dad, and twin daughters, have all taken part in the campaign (Image: Dementia UK)

The campaign is a combination of interviews, filming the family and adverts on social media and billboards around the UK.

Clare added: "Alongside two other brave families, we are all keen to share the story that there's help out there - if it's your parent, grandparent, partner or friend."

Clare also runs Harpenden Dementia Community on Facebook to connect local residents living with dementia and their carers.

Music is a proven tool to aid dementia sufferers, and Clare also launched Sing from the Heart Harpenden in 2019 and has performed music across the Hertfordshire care homes to thousands of residents affected by Dementia.

More on Clare's story can be found at www.dementiauk.org/information-and-support/stories/clares-story-we-live-with-dementia.