Show Notes
In this deeply emotional episode, Beth sits down with close friend Kirsty Roebuck, who has faced the unimaginable - both of her parents were diagnosed with vascular dementia within 18 months of each other.
Kirsty opens up about the first signs that something wasn’t right with her dad and the grief of slowly losing both parents in different ways to the same disease. She talks with heartbreaking honesty about denial, anger, guilt and the heavy responsibility that falls on families in caring roles.
From navigating care systems, to handling aggressive behaviour, to coping with anticipatory grief and the emotional toll of becoming “the parent” to your parents, this is a story that so many will sadly recognise.
But this episode is also full of love - love that continues even when dementia takes so much away.
If you need support with anything discussed in this podcast, visit alzheimers.org.uk for the dementia support line. To learn more about dementia research and how you can get involved, email [email protected]
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More from FTD - Navigating The Cr*p
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Last week we heard from Suzi, who is living with FTD. This week her husband, Colin, joins me to share the other side of their story.
This week I'm joined by Suzi Barton - the FTD Warrior. Suzi was diagnosed with FTD at just 50 and has been living with it for 11 years. She's a former social worker, a mum, a nana to 11, a rock chick and a miniature maker, and she's proof that a dementia diagnosis doesn't mean life has to stop.
Series 3 kicks off in FTD Awareness Week 2026 with Emily Harris. Her mum, Andrea, was a nurse for 35 years. She was first diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer's at 56, until a genetic test showed she actually has MAPT FTD.
In this special bonus episode of FTD: Navigating the Crap, Beth is joined by Natalie Carter, host of the Dementia Dialogues podcast.