Where Memories Go - Why Dementia Changes Everything

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Warning Signs

20140203

20140204 (R4)

'If dementia were a country it would be the world's 18th largest economy, somewhere between Turkey and Indonesia.'

Scottish broadcaster Sally Magnusson reads her moving but searingly honest account of her mother Mamie Baird's long struggle with dementia. Regarded as one of the finest journalists of her generation, Mamie Baird's whole life was a celebration of words - words that she fought to retain until the very end. Married to writer and broadcaster Magnus Magnusson, the working-class Scot was known for her witty, outrageous and fun-loving stories, her love of music and of life itself. As well as chronicling the anguish, the frustrations and the unexpected laughs that Sally and her sisters experienced while caring for their mother for eight years until her death in 2012, Sally seeks understanding from scientists, doctors, philosophers and historians in the face of one of the greatest challenges of our times. This is both a call to arms, a poignant account of what makes us human, and a portrait of what it is really like to lose a loved one day by day.

In today's episode: the early but frighteningly tell-tale signs of dementia emerge on a trip to Mull.

Abridged by: Sara Davies

Produced by: Justine Willett

Reader: Sally Magnusson: Sally Magnusson is a Scottish broadcaster and writer, currently working as the presenter of Reporting Scotland for BBC Scotland. Her father is the late broadcaster and writer Magnus Magnusson.

Sally Magnusson reads the moving account of her mother's long struggle with dementia.

Facing Up

20140204

20140205 (R4)

'If dementia were a country it would be the world's 18th largest economy, somewhere between Turkey and Indonesia.'

Scottish broadcaster Sally Magnusson reads her moving but searingly honest account of her mother Mamie Baird's long struggle with dementia. Regarded as one of the finest journalists of her generation, Mamie Baird's whole life was a celebration of words - words that she fought to retain until the very end. Married to writer and broadcaster Magnus Magnusson, the working-class Scot was known for her witty, outrageous and fun-loving stories, her love of music and of life itself. As well as chronicling the anguish, the frustrations and the unexpected laughs that Sally and her sisters experienced while caring for their mother for eight years until her death in 2012, Sally seeks understanding from scientists, doctors, philosophers and politicians in the face of one of the greatest challenges of our times.

In today's episode: despite the tell-tale warning signs, Sally and her family are still doing their best to ignore the truth.

Abridged by: Sara Davies

Produced by: Justine Willett

Reader: Sally Magnusson

Sally Magnusson reads the moving account of her mother's long struggle with dementia.

The Death Of A Husband

20140205

20140206 (R4)

'If dementia were a country it would be the world's 18th largest economy, somewhere between Turkey and Indonesia.'

Scottish broadcaster Sally Magnusson reads her moving but searingly honest account of her mother Mamie Baird's long struggle with dementia. Married to writer and broadcaster Magnus Magnusson, Mamie Baird was a pioneering journalist, known for her witty, outrageous and fun-loving stories, for her love of music and of life itself. As well as chronicling the anguish, the frustrations and the unexpected laughs that Sally and her sisters experienced while caring for their mother for eight years until her death in 2012, Sally seeks understanding from scientists, doctors, philosophers and politicians in the face of one of the greatest challenges of our times.

In today's episode: the death of a beloved husband, and Mamie's struggle to grieve.

Abridged by: Sara Davies

Produced by: Justine Willett

Reader: Sally Magnusson

Sally Magnusson reads the moving memoir of her mother's long struggle with dementia.

Consolation In Forgetting

20140206

20140207 (R4)

'If dementia were a country it would be the world's 18th largest economy, somewhere between Turkey and Indonesia.'

In today's episode: Sally sees that there is sometimes consolation in forgetting.

Abridged by: Sara Davies

Produced by: Justine Willett

Reader: Sally Magnusson

Sally Magnusson reads the moving account of her mother's struggle with dementia.

05 LAST

A Peaceful End

20140207

20140208 (R4)

'If dementia were a country it would be the world's 18th largest economy, somewhere between Turkey and Indonesia.'

Today: a peaceful end amongst family.

Abridged by: Sara Davies

Produced by: Justine Willett

Reader: Sally Magnusson

Sally Magnusson reads the heart-rending account of her mother's struggle with dementia.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Warning Signs	20140203	20140204 (R4)	'If dementia were a country it would be the world's 18th largest economy, somewhere between Turkey and Indonesia.' Scottish broadcaster Sally Magnusson reads her moving but searingly honest account of her mother Mamie Baird's long struggle with dementia. Regarded as one of the finest journalists of her generation, Mamie Baird's whole life was a celebration of words - words that she fought to retain until the very end. Married to writer and broadcaster Magnus Magnusson, the working-class Scot was known for her witty, outrageous and fun-loving stories, her love of music and of life itself. As well as chronicling the anguish, the frustrations and the unexpected laughs that Sally and her sisters experienced while caring for their mother for eight years until her death in 2012, Sally seeks understanding from scientists, doctors, philosophers and historians in the face of one of the greatest challenges of our times. This is both a call to arms, a poignant account of what makes us human, and a portrait of what it is really like to lose a loved one day by day. In today's episode: the early but frighteningly tell-tale signs of dementia emerge on a trip to Mull. Abridged by: Sara Davies Produced by: Justine Willett Reader: Sally Magnusson: Sally Magnusson is a Scottish broadcaster and writer, currently working as the presenter of Reporting Scotland for BBC Scotland. Her father is the late broadcaster and writer Magnus Magnusson. Sally Magnusson reads the moving account of her mother's long struggle with dementia.
02	Facing Up	20140204	20140205 (R4)	'If dementia were a country it would be the world's 18th largest economy, somewhere between Turkey and Indonesia.' Scottish broadcaster Sally Magnusson reads her moving but searingly honest account of her mother Mamie Baird's long struggle with dementia. Regarded as one of the finest journalists of her generation, Mamie Baird's whole life was a celebration of words - words that she fought to retain until the very end. Married to writer and broadcaster Magnus Magnusson, the working-class Scot was known for her witty, outrageous and fun-loving stories, her love of music and of life itself. As well as chronicling the anguish, the frustrations and the unexpected laughs that Sally and her sisters experienced while caring for their mother for eight years until her death in 2012, Sally seeks understanding from scientists, doctors, philosophers and politicians in the face of one of the greatest challenges of our times. In today's episode: despite the tell-tale warning signs, Sally and her family are still doing their best to ignore the truth. Abridged by: Sara Davies Produced by: Justine Willett Reader: Sally Magnusson Sally Magnusson reads the moving account of her mother's long struggle with dementia.
02	The Death Of A Husband	20140205	20140206 (R4)	'If dementia were a country it would be the world's 18th largest economy, somewhere between Turkey and Indonesia.' Scottish broadcaster Sally Magnusson reads her moving but searingly honest account of her mother Mamie Baird's long struggle with dementia. Married to writer and broadcaster Magnus Magnusson, Mamie Baird was a pioneering journalist, known for her witty, outrageous and fun-loving stories, for her love of music and of life itself. As well as chronicling the anguish, the frustrations and the unexpected laughs that Sally and her sisters experienced while caring for their mother for eight years until her death in 2012, Sally seeks understanding from scientists, doctors, philosophers and politicians in the face of one of the greatest challenges of our times. In today's episode: the death of a beloved husband, and Mamie's struggle to grieve. Abridged by: Sara Davies Produced by: Justine Willett Reader: Sally Magnusson Sally Magnusson reads the moving memoir of her mother's long struggle with dementia.
04	Consolation In Forgetting	20140206	20140207 (R4)	'If dementia were a country it would be the world's 18th largest economy, somewhere between Turkey and Indonesia.' Scottish broadcaster Sally Magnusson reads her moving but searingly honest account of her mother Mamie Baird's long struggle with dementia. Married to writer and broadcaster Magnus Magnusson, Mamie Baird was a pioneering journalist, known for her witty, outrageous and fun-loving stories, for her love of music and of life itself. As well as chronicling the anguish, the frustrations and the unexpected laughs that Sally and her sisters experienced while caring for their mother for eight years until her death in 2012, Sally seeks understanding from scientists, doctors, philosophers and politicians in the face of one of the greatest challenges of our times. In today's episode: Sally sees that there is sometimes consolation in forgetting. Abridged by: Sara Davies Produced by: Justine Willett Reader: Sally Magnusson Sally Magnusson reads the moving account of her mother's struggle with dementia.
05 LAST	A Peaceful End	20140207	20140208 (R4)	'If dementia were a country it would be the world's 18th largest economy, somewhere between Turkey and Indonesia.' Scottish broadcaster Sally Magnusson reads her moving but searingly honest account of her mother Mamie Baird's long struggle with dementia. Married to writer and broadcaster Magnus Magnusson, Mamie Baird was a pioneering journalist, known for her witty, outrageous and fun-loving stories, for her love of music and of life itself. As well as chronicling the anguish, the frustrations and the unexpected laughs that Sally and her sisters experienced while caring for their mother for eight years until her death in 2012, Sally seeks understanding from scientists, doctors, philosophers and politicians in the face of one of the greatest challenges of our times. Today: a peaceful end amongst family. Abridged by: Sara Davies Produced by: Justine Willett Reader: Sally Magnusson Sally Magnusson reads the heart-rending account of her mother's struggle with dementia.