In this special bonus episode of FTD: Navigating the Crap, Beth is joined by Natalie Carter, host of the Dementia Dialogues podcast.

Earlier this year, Beth shared her own family’s experience of Frontotemporal Dementia on Natalie’s podcast, and now the roles are reversed as she joins Beth to share her story and reflect on what she’s learned through years of honest conversations with carers and families affected by dementia.

Together, they talk about the shock of diagnosis and the devastating lack of follow-up support so many families face, the emotional weight carried by carers who don’t always recognise themselves as carers and the guilt, burnout and isolation that come up again and again in these journeys.

They also discuss why forward planning, early conversations and peer support can make such a difference and why too many people still fall through the cracks, particularly older carers.

If you need advice or support, you can contact:

• Dementia UK Admiral Nurse Helpline: 0800 888 6678
• Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Support Line: 0333 150 3456

You can also listen to Natalie’s podcast Dementia Dialogues wherever you get your podcasts, where she continues these vital conversations with carers, professionals and people living with dementia.

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In this final episode of Season Two, Beth takes a moment to pause, look back, and share where life - and her mum’s dementia journey - are now.

She talks openly about the hardest moments of the past year: the sudden overnight decline that changed everything, learning to adapt to new routines with her dad and facing the reality that dementia is a progressive, life-limiting disease.

Beth also reflects on the powerful conversations she’s had throughout this series - from Helen’s genetic testing experience to Eleanor’s discussion on living grief - and how they’ve shaped her own thinking about guilt, self-care and what the future might hold.

The podcast will return in 2026, but for now, Beth is taking a much-needed break to spend precious time with her mum over the festive period.

If you need support with anything discussed in this podcast, visit alzheimers.org.uk for the dementia support line.

To learn more about dementia research and how you can get involved, email infoline@alzheimersresearchuk.org.

To stay connected or share your story:

📸 Instagram: @ftdnavigatingthecrap

✉️ Email: ftdnavigatingthecrap@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Beth is joined by Eleanor Connelly from Tide (Together In Dementia Everyday) - a charity dedicated to supporting carers and former carers of people living with dementia. Eleanor opens up about her experience caring for her dad with vascular dementia, and how her own grief led her to the work she now does.

Together, we explore one of the hardest and most hidden parts of dementia: living grief.

The grief you feel while your loved one is still here - but changing. The weight of the lives you’re no longer living. The guilt. The silent thoughts. The things we don’t say out loud because we worry they make us bad carers or bad people. Eleanor shares how opening up about these feelings can be a lifeline.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, resentful, guilty or ashamed for the thoughts you’ve had on this journey -this episode will help you feel less alone.

If today’s episode resonated with you, you can access Tide’s free events, resources, booklets and videos at Tide.uk.net.

Tide isn’t just for carers and former carers - they also provide training and resources for professionals, helping everyone to better understand and navigate the dementia journey.

If you need support with anything discussed in this podcast, visit alzheimers.org.uk for the dementia support line.

To learn more about dementia research and how you can get involved, email infoline@alzheimersresearchuk.org

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.