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One of the things about creating a book with a purpose is that you really, really want to know whether it’s fulfilling that purpose. I ‘thought’ other people might have a similar need to me - there aren’t a lot of options for books for people living with advanced dementia, after all.

My mum had early onset dementia (we are over 13 years into her journey).

My mum's mum had early onset dementia.

There's a family history that I find hard to ignore.

It’s taken a while, but I am finally getting around to creating more specific mugs and prints than ‘I remember how much I love dogs’. Because, there’s being a dog-lover, and then there is being absolutely in love with a specific breed.

I honestly started casting a critical eye over squirrels - “ that one’s cute but it has a mean glint in its eye”. “I don’t like how that one is holding the nut”.

It’s fair to say I got carried away with either too much choice, or absolutely none.

There have been a couple of times in life where I’ve been put on the spot regarding my in-depth knowledge about my parents - organising my dad’s funeral, and providing information for my mum’s care home.

I am going to suggest that as well as wills and living wills, we all add another document alongside, on how we’d like to be known and remembered.

Buying gifts for someone with dementia, especially advanced dementia, can be really hard. You know that their needs are being met, you want to get them something special, but there is every chance that whatever you get will elicit absolutely no reaction

Creating ‘Words Without Stories’ was obviously a very personal project for me. I knew my mum could read - she would hold onto greetings cards, study them, and say the odd word. And I couldn’t find quite the ‘right’ book out there for her.

First up, let’s be honest - you don’t want to choose one. You never wanted to be in the position of needing one either for yourself, or a loved one. Plus, you know nothing about them, and your head is all over the place. So, before anything else, give yourself some grace. It is a tough time, and you’re 100% allowed to feel that.

One of the hardest things, when it comes to my mum, is choosing gifts. This is a woman who used to love presents. Who doesn’t? you might well ask. But, there are plenty of people for whom giving and receiving gifts isn’t their love language - my mum was never one of them. Until now.