The funny side of Alzheimer'sThe funny side of Alzheimer's
All In The Mind
Michelle Wyatt’s father sat devotedly by his wife’s side in the dementia ward every day from eight o’clock in the morning until eight o’clock at night. It was an intense and poignant journey through Alzheimer’s disease for the whole family—but along the way they used their wicked sense of humour to get them through.
28:48•5 Jun 2016
Laughing Through Tears: Michelle Wyatt on the Funny Side of Alzheimer’s
Episode Overview
- Humour can sit alongside sadness in Alzheimer’s, and laughing at situations (not at people) can ease the emotional load.
- Family members may miss or deny early signs of dementia, especially when a partner quietly compensates for the person’s difficulties.
- Devoted daily presence from a loved one can shape a patient’s comfort and longevity in a dementia ward.
- Carers in nursing homes often form deep bonds with families and provide care comparable to close relatives.
- Some families use gentle white lies to soothe distressed dementia patients, while others choose repeated truth, showing there’s no single right approach.
“"It’s a terminal illness. There’s no cure for it… but every time we had these conversations, we always ended up laughing."”
What emotional and inspiring tales of recovery are out there? This conversation from *All In The Mind* heads into the messy, tender and surprisingly funny reality of Alzheimer's disease within one close-knit family. Centred on first-time author Michelle Wyatt and her book *Not Right in the Head*, the episode traces how Alzheimer's affected three generations of her family – her grandmother, her mother, and her own fears for the future.
You’ll hear how a "terminal illness that is very depressing and very confronting" still produced moments that had everyone in stitches, from the resident known as "the whistler" who endlessly made odd whistling noises, to an aunt with a sock drawer full of other people’s glasses.
Michelle talks about missing the early signs of her mum’s condition, her dad quietly covering for her mother at home, and his extraordinary devotion once she entered the dementia ward, sitting by her side from eight in the morning until eight at night. She reflects on the strange mix of grief and relief that came when her mum finally died after thirteen years with the disease, and how those years changed her relationship with her father.
The episode also looks at ethical grey areas, like whether "little white lies" are sometimes kinder than painful truths for dementia patients, and highlights the compassion and hard work of nursing home carers who "do everything that a loving family member would do". Michelle shares her own anxiety about having Alzheimer’s in the family, why she avoids genetic testing, and the slightly cheeky conditions she’s set for her husband if he ever "moves on" while she’s in care.
For anyone touched by dementia or worried about their own memory, this blend of heartbreak and humour might feel strangely comforting. Could finding a smile in the hardest moments help you through your own caring journey?
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