Personal Stories

James, Scotland

Imagine not being able to do simple tasks that you’ve done numerous times. This is what happened to James when he was in his late 50s – a situation that caused great frustration to him and his family and led him to lose his job and nearly his marriage of 30 years.

Eventually, James was diagnosed with dementia, something that came as quite a shock: “When I found out I had dementia it was like being hit by a train. I thought my life was over. I sat at home with the curtains drawn staring at a blank TV screen, and I didn’t want to do anything.”

But things quickly changed for the better when James became involved with the Scottish Dementia Working Group, a independent group which received a grant from Comic Relief. It’s aim is to raise awareness of dementia, lessen the stigma that surrounds the condition, and help the 65,000 people in Scotland living with dementia lead more enjoyable and manageable lives.

It’s an ambition that James is keen to help the group achieve. Already, he has invented a Dementia Card that people can show to strangers when they need help; he has designed a memory jogger calendar which has proved invaluable to the families of people living with dementia; and he has become a passionate spokesperson about the condition.

James says, “People don’t know that you can still lead a happy and full life if you have dementia.” He’s certainly proof that you can.