A woman who became her mother’s full-time carer at 20 and likened it to “looking after a child” after her young onset dementia left her incontinent and unable to feed, wash, or dress herself has said she wants to share her story to help others feel “less alone”. Amy Lambert’s late mum and “best friend” Sarah, a “bubbly and outgoing” teaching assistant, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) – a rare form of dementia that affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain – at the age of 47.
Sarah quickly went from being an independent woman, to fully incontinent and unable to dress herself, meaning Amy and her mum’s roles totally reversed. Amy, now 25, became a full-time carer at the age of 20, feeding, washing, and dressing her mum, providing support 24/7, until Sarah suddenly passed away from a brain haemorrhage, while in respite care, at the age of 51.
Taking on the responsibility as a carer at such a young age was extremely challenging, but Amy wants to encourage other carers to seek help and support, when needed, and to give the message that “you are not alone”. “Reading other stories of other families going through it is so important because it makes you feel that you are less alone,” Amy said.
