The coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on everyone, but for those living with dementia it has had untold effects. For Mike Brookes, the lockdown has stripped away a daily routine he desperately relied on to provide structure and purpose.
His wife Liz fears the change of habits has had a serious impact on Mike's cognitive ability. She has even had to stop Mike, 77, from watching rolling news because the effects of pandemic updates have been so upsetting. “People with dementia may not always understand what's going on but they understand emotions, and the worry and experience anxiety because of the coronavirus headlines,” she says. “Mike was an obsessive watcher of the news, but I've had to limit the amount of time he watches it to stop