Humour and Heart: Smug Roberts on Caring for Dementia
In this episode of 'Do I Sound Like I Care?', host Louise Lynch welcomes actor and comedian Smug Roberts to discuss his experiences as an unpaid carer. They talk about his journey from stand-up comedy to acting, his new play 'Dementia Street', and the importance of maintaining humour while caring for a loved one with dementia.
Sharing personal stories, Roberts reflects on family dynamics, his upbringing, and the challenges of caring for his mother, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia. The episode explores themes of acceptance, resilience, and the necessity of preparing for cognitive decline, while offering insights into Roberts’ creative process and his way of coping with loss through theatre.
Follow Smug Roberts https://www.instagram.com/smugrobertscomedian/
Tickets on Sale to Dementia Street at https://homemcr.org/ from October 2024.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:32 Getting to Know Smug Roberts
01:33 Smug’s Journey into Comedy
04:48 Family Background and Early Life
06:28 Caring for a Parent with Dementia
06:40 Writing and Performing Dementia Street
08:39 Challenges and Humour in Caregiving
10:46 End of Life Planning and Family Dynamics
12:12 Visiting and Maintaining Connection
17:03 Personal Experiences and Reflections
18:44 Power of Attorney and Dementia
19:27 Caring for a Parent with Dementia
21:15 Challenges of Daily Care
21:56 Emotional Struggles and Coping Mechanisms
22:27 Innovative Care Solutions
23:31 Balancing Personal Life and Caregiving
26:52 The Reality of End-of-Life Care
28:38 Processing Grief Through Creativity
32:03 The Impact of Dementia Awareness
33:14 Personal Reflections and Family Support
37:18 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans
Studio space provided by Generator Startup WorkSpace+Support
- Royal Mills
- Ancoats
- Manchester
- M4 5BA
https://generatormcr.org/contact/
