Doctor DILF: Episode 1.3: Dementia & Caring Show Notes
Doctor DILF: Series 1 Episode 3:
Dementia & Caring
Dr. Simon Fox chats with the award-winning LGBTQ+ dementia campaigner Mike Parish of the LGBTQ+ Dementia Advisory Group.
Why you should listen to this episode…
Doctor DILF is the health podcast for older gay and bisexual men, unpicking what it means to be us in these crazy times. Every episode, Dr. Simon Fox (a specialist in LGBTQ+ healthy aging) talks with experts about the topic of the week, seeking answers and providing food for thought regarding our health and well-being.
This episode, Dr. Simon Fox talks with Mike Parish, an award-winning LGBTQ+ dementia campaigner. Mike tells Simon how he met his husband Tom in the 1970s, a romantic and poignant story which will resonate with many listeners. Mike tells us how Tom had dementia, and of the journey through care and endless medical appointments they took together. Simon learns how the LGBTQ+ Dementia Advisory Group came about, the amazing work they do, and of how Mike won an award for his achievements. Mike offers salient and timely advice about getting your legal, consent, and financial status in order early in the journey.
In turn, Simon offers his own personal and professional perspective on dementia, recounting his clinical career in dementia care, and in caring for relatives.
This episode is for everyone who has ever been touched by dementia as a person, a carer, or a loved one, and for anyone in the LGBTQ+ community experiencing dementia who may be looking at the future wondering what it holds.
Trigger Warning: This episode contains descriptions of hate crimes, which some listeners may find distressing. Therefore, listener discretion is advised.
Episode Summary
Are you an older gay or bisexual man caring for their husband or partner who has dementia? Perhaps you or your partner are showing the early signs of dementia, so how do you prepare for the future? What are the challenges you might face as a carer of a loved one with dementia? What is the experience of LGBTQ+ people in care home? What does the law say? What is the LGBTQ+ Dementia Advisory Group? Who is out there to lend a helping hand? And what does it feel like to receive a reward from Rylan Clark and Rob Rinder?
You can join in the conversation using the #DoctorDILF hashtag on social media!
Subjects Covered
Mike and Tom’s story, Tom’s dementia, hate crimes, healthcare practitioner assumptions, the assumptions of the general public, navigating the health and social care system, getting your paperwork sorted ahead of time, power of attorney, consent, getting married, the LGBTQ+ residents of care homes, LGBTQ+ care home staff, current politics threatening social and cultural change, the work of the LGBTQ+ Dementia Advisory Group, and receiving an Attitude Award.
The Guest
Mike Parish is a director of the LGBTQ+ Dementia Advisory Group. An ex-fireman, he is an experienced dementia carer and now spends his time campaigning for LGBTQ+ people with dementia and their carers. You can reach Mike via the LGBTQ+ Dementia Advisory Group here.
Helpful Links
Some dementia charities and organisations are mentioned in the programme. You can find the Alzheimer’s Society here, Rainbow Communities here, and Dementia UK here.
