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John Stillwell/PA Wire
UK News

Dame Barbara Windsor's husband congratulated by dementia cafe vicar after Alzheimer's revelation

An emotional interview given by Scott Mitchell (pictured above) was praised by Rev Steve Morris, who runs a so-called memory cafe at his church for families affected by dementia.

The leader of St Cuthbert's in north Wembley told Premier he was "proud" of the family's decision to go public about the star's diagnosis - made in 2014.

Urging other families to have open conversation about dementia, he added: "People are not only scared of Alzheimer's, they're scared of being labelled, I think.

"When people are more open about it, their families can get more involved in their care [and] people realise there's no shame to having Alzheimer's.

"One thing about speaking about it and acknowledging it is that you're now on the dementia journey and I think it takes away the fear because it's the fear that's one of the worst things about dementia."

Mr Mitchell told the Sun newspaper that his wife's symptoms have grown more profound in recent weeks and that he wanted to set the record straight amid the circulation of rumours about her health.

He said: "Since her 80th birthday last August, a definite continual confusion has set in, so it's becoming a lot more difficult for us to hide."

John Stilwell/PA Wire

Louise Morse, a Christian researcher who has written extensively about dementia, told Premier an Alzheimer's diagnosis can be traumatic but it does not erase an individual's personhood.

She explained: "You can be relieved to know that's what it is and then you can begin to plan - but it is a terminal illness and it is sad.

"There will be grief, there will be guilt, there will be a whole spectrum of emotions... one thing to remember always is that the person remains; the essential 'you' will always be the same.

"The brain damage may alter how you react to certain things and how you behave but you will always be there."

Click here to listen to Premier's John Pantry and Rosie Wright speaking with Louise Morse:

Click here to listen to Premier's Eno Adeogan speaking with Rev Steve Morris:

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