Let's discuss ageing, dementia, death & dying

My journey with ageing started at a very young age when my mother became the matron of the local care home in Heidelberg on the Garden Route, our home town. At this vulnerable and impressionable age, I became aware of death, dementia, and ageing as my mother transformed the institutional setting, trying to create a home for everyone. I never found the care home depressing as there was lots of laughter, light, fresh flowers, a beautiful garden, and always the smell of home-cooked food in the passages. I never thought that one day I would have a career in ageing…

At the age of 45, I decided to start studying again and enrolled for a bridging course in Dementia Studies which would give me access to their Master’s program. At 50 I obtained my MSc in Dementia Studies, and after a break of one year I started my PhD, which I obtained in August 2022. I offer consultation services to people diagnosed with dementia and their families, as well as to care providers and organisations.