Louth woman launches dementia help kit

Chris Suich launched Bob's Brainwaves at the Trinity Centre in Louth

A woman whose husband has dementia has created a kit to help others affected by the disease.

Chris Suich, from Louth, said she hoped it would "lighten the load" and help both those with the condition and carers looking after them.

Bob's Brainwaves - named after her husband - includes important forms as well as signage and activities to do at home.

She announced the initiative at the town's Trinity Centre on Wednesday.

The free packs are available online but will officially be launched during Dementia Action week in May.

It will include notes to use around the home such as "lock the door" and "don't turn this off" for freezers.

It also contains forms to apply for a blue parking badge, a council tax discount, and a complimentary cinema pass.

'From a place of love'

Mr Suich, now 71, was a leisure and tourism officer for East Lindsey District Council before being diagnosed with amnesia at 59.

He was diagnosed with dementia three years later in 2015.

Mrs Suich cared for him for nine years before he went into a care home in 2020.

The 62-year-old said taking her husband his favourite food or playing music were triggers that helped him remember who she was.

"He comes back to me a little bit and goes 'it's you'," she said.

The packs include notes to use around the home such as "lock the door" and "don't turn this off" for freezers

Mrs Suich said finding out about her husband's diagnosis was "lonely" and "bewildering".

She said: "Bob is end-of-life now but is in care so it frees me up to do this sort of thing for other people.

"I have put everything that we found useful in the pack to help lighten the load and to save time and energy and stress for other carers."

Health Secretary and Conservative MP for Louth and Horncastle, Victoria Atkins, described Mrs Suich as an "amazing force of nature".

She also praised the scheme and said it "comes from that place of love".

"It puts it all into one place so somebody doesn't have to go around hunting for websites," she said.