Poem Supporting Those With Dementia and Alzheimer’s

I came across this piece written by Becky Hemsley and was so captivated by it that I felt compelled to share it with you. It resonated deeply with me, and I believe it’s something everyone should read. If you enjoy her work, you can subscribe to her YouTube channel at this link.

When I am older
I might not remember
I might get confused
And I might lose my temper

And there may be times
When I don’t know your name
Because it’s been trapped,
Locked away in my brain

And though it will hurt
To think I could forget you
Offer me smiles,
Hold my hand if I’ll let you

And talk of adventures
We had long ago
Show me the photos
Of people I know

Play music we’ve danced to
And songs we have sung
Read me the books I read
When I was young

‘Cause your voice and your words
Might just be the key
That opens the door –
That unlocks it for me

And maybe the music
Will spark tiny embers
Of memories dormant
And I will remember

Your name and your face
And the words to our song
The times and the places
To which I’ve belonged

And it might last moments
Or minutes or more
As the fire sheds light
Through the crack in the door

But when the door closes
And gone are the flames
When you are once more
A stranger again

Just know you’ll have stirred something
Deep down inside
Something familiar
That I recognise

Something that’s real
That’s not stored in my head
But right at the core
Of my heart space instead

Something that’s stirred
By your smiles and your stories
The touch of your hand
And the songs you sing for me

And though I’ll have no words to tell you
Just trust
That deep down inside
I’ll remember

I’m loved

~ Becky Hemsley