186: The 'D' Word with Pete Hill - Episode 186186: The 'D' Word with Pete Hill - Episode 186
UK Health Radio Podcast
Pete Hill talks with Dementia Companion and advocate Gina Awad about her book *When Time Aligns*, a collection of linked stories on dementia care. Their conversation touches on rare dementias, family experiences, practical resources and the importance of keeping the focus on people rather than labels.
33:02•16 Oct 2026
Stories of Dementia Care with Gina Awad and the ‘D-Word’
Episode Overview
- Short, story-led books can make complex dementia topics easier to understand without overwhelming busy carers.
- Fictional framing through a companion character and therapy dog helps connect separate real-life care stories into a warm narrative.
- Including glossaries and resource sections reduces confusion around medical jargon and acronyms for families and professionals.
- Highlighting rare dementias and cultural differences broadens understanding beyond the usual memory-loss model.
- Planning ahead – including funerals and digital legacy – can ease pressure on families and reflect the wishes of the person with dementia.
“One of the things she said is how clever it is that you’re learning, but you don’t know you’re learning.”
What remarkable journeys have people faced head-on against dementia? This chat on UK Health Radio’s D-Word podcast introduces Gina Awad, a Dementia Companion, Advocate and author of *When Time Aligns: Stories of Care from a Dementia Companion*, sharing how her new book came to life after the death of illustrator Tony Husband and the challenge of finding the right person to continue his legacy.
You’ll hear Gina talk about working with new illustrator Mark Hannan, whose personal connection to dementia helped everything "just kind of all clicked". The episode walks through how she shaped the book’s concept, using the fictional companion Sienna and therapy dog Willow to create a gentle, connected thread between seven stories that can be read straight through or dipped into one at a time. The focus is firmly on making dementia information easy to grasp.
As one reviewer put it, reading the book means "you’re learning, but you don’t know you’re learning". Gina explains how she weaves practical "little nuggets" of advice and resources into family stories, without turning the book into a textbook or drowning readers in jargon. A glossary and resource section aim to stop people feeling lost in acronyms, echoing the late Wendy Mitchell’s famous "jargon jar".
The conversation highlights rare dementias like posterior cortical atrophy, young onset dementia, cultural differences in understanding dementia, and the realities of remote care between countries. Gina also talks about planning ahead, digital legacy, and how dementia co-exists with other serious illnesses, reminding listeners that it’s "not about dementia, it’s about people". Stylistically, the episode is warm, conversational and occasionally cheeky (J.K.
Rowling gets a playful mention), making it ideal for family carers, professionals, and anyone touched by dementia who needs something human, accessible and honest. If you’re short on time but hungry for real stories and practical comfort, could this be the 90-minute read that changes how you look at dementia care?
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