Dementia Australia’s new podcast is breaking barriers and sparking meaningful conversations to help alleviate the loneliness and social isolation people living with dementia experience.
Hold the Moment was developed by people living with dementia and is hosted by journalists Jim Rogers, who lives with younger onset dementia after being diagnosed at just 55, and Hamish Macdonald, whose father has dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease.
The highly respected duo explore the experiences of being diagnosed, managing sleep disturbance and hallucinations, travelling, staying active and managing relationships with people living with dementia, carers and health experts.
After receiving his own diagnosis in his 50s, Jim said he thought time stood still as he encountered a disease he knew absolutely nothing about.
Through meeting other people living with dementia and learning how to live in the moment and improve his quality of life, Jim knows how important a podcast such as Hold the Moment can be.
“I felt very lonely after my dementia diagnosis. It’s pretty scary, scary territory,” Jim said.
“Being able to hear about others’ experiences in a positive way on a podcast like this would have been an amazing thing for me when I was diagnosed.”
The podcast provides the perfect opportunity to promote the different experiences of people living with dementia, an important step towards overcoming some of the stigmas attached to dementia.
Survey results from Dementia Australia found that one-third of people avoid or exclude their loved one with dementia, while nearly half the survey respondents perceive people don’t keep in touch as they used to.
Hamish, who has firsthand experience of dementia through his father, said there has been so much to learn while talking with guests.
“As a journalist I’ve met many people living with dementia, but all of this hit close to home a few years ago when my dad was diagnosed with dementia,” Mr Macdonald said.
“The stories shared by all the people living with dementia involved will help to break down barriers that discourage people seeking help and reduce the impact of social isolation.
“Receiving news of a diagnosis is huge and at every step of this project I’ve been in awe of all of the people living with dementia willing to share about their often intensely personal experiences to help others.”
Jim and Hamish are joined on the podcast by Heather Cooper, Catherine Daskalakis, Pam Eade, Juanita Hughes, Ann Pietsch, Anthony Pollock and Kevyn Morris – who all live with different forms of dementia, and Dom O’Leary, who cared for her father with dementia.
They are also joined by Professor Nola Ries, from the Faculty of Law at the University of Technology Sydney and co-founder of the Dementia Law Network, Associate Professor Stephanie Rainey-Smith, a neuroscientist from Murdoch University and Kristin, an Advisor from the National Dementia Helpline.
Dementia Australia also revealed that Hamish is now an Ambassador for the organisation, and his visible media profile will no doubt provide more benefits in the dementia awareness space.
“Hamish has been extraordinary in his support for Dementia Australia helping us to raise awareness about dementia and our organisation,” Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan added.
“I want to thank each and every person who has contributed to the making of the podcast and acknowledge the support of the Australian Government. They all have been so generous in sharing their experiences and expertise in order to help others.
“It is a powerful example of people continuing to live well while experiencing daunting changes and upheavals to their lives.”
Follow Hold the Moment wherever you listen to podcasts, including Spotify or Apple Podcasts. You can also listen to the Hold the Moment trailer here: www.dementia.org.au/podcast.
