'Friends stop calling' - The isolation of a carer

Susan Campbell says friends she's known for more than 50 years have stopped calling since her husband was diagnosed with dementia

"It's very isolating. People that you've known for 50, 60 years suddenly stop calling, stop coming round because they're frightened of it."

Susan Campbell has been a full time carer for her husband Colin since he was diagnosed with dementia eight years ago.

"It is not something you are going to catch off of somebody," she said.

"It was something we would never have thought would happen because he was an active man, loved life, loved his grandchildren, golf, everything. He loved people."

'It's like being on 24/7 alert'

She says being a carer is exhausting but when her husband has a lucid moment "it is wonderful."

"You think, 'oh isn't this lovely?', and then you can close the kitchen door and suddenly we're back to No Man's Land, as I call it. It's frightening."

"It is more when trying to sleep during the night. It is very scary because you can be up five, six hours. (He can be) in and out of the bathroom, putting taps on, turning them off and you are awake constantly.

"It is like being on 24/7 alert."

Dementia is a progressive condition that affects memory, thinking, and decision-making.

It is not a single disease, but a group of symptoms caused by disorders that affect the brain — with Alzheimer's being the most common.

People with dementia gradually lose their ability to live independently. They may struggle with everyday tasks, changes in mood, and confusion about time, place, or identity.

As patients deteriorate, the need for support also grows — not just for those living with the condition, but also for their carers.

Population crisis

According to Statistics Jersey, the number of islanders aged 65 and over has increased by 12% in the past five years.

Dementia Jersey estimated around 1,600 islanders were living with the condition and the charity believed that figure would double within a generation.

The St-Helier based charity has launched a new series of 12 short online videos to better support carers.

They cover key topics such as driving and dementia, supporting activities and social engagement, and thinking ahead and planning for the future.

Claudine Snape from Dementia Jersey says the videos are aimed at carers to offer additional support

"We realise that carers face such a huge challenge in caring for someone with dementia and previously we've relied on supporting them with face to face bookable appointments," said Claudine Snape from the charity.

"But we realised we could reach more people actually if we created some online resources, so that is what got us thinking about trying to support that demand in a different way."

"We spoke to carers about those issues that they felt were the most important ones to them and shortlisted twelve topic areas to give them lots of really practical hints and tips."

For Susan Campbell, the support she has received from Dementia Jersey has been invaluable.

"Without Dementia Jersey I would have been completely and utterly lost," she said.