The Dementia Conversation Every Family Needs to Hear | Aimee Owens

"We don't talk about ageing with children - but children notice everything." Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, ageing, memory loss, caregiving, grief, and family illness. This week's conversation is a deeply moving one about family, memory, love and the difficult realities that so many families quietly navigate behind closed doors. I'm joined by primary school teacher and dementia advocate Aimee Owens, who shares her family's journey after her father was diagnosed with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. As a teacher of over 20 years, Aimee sees first-hand how important grandparents are in children's lives. Yet when dementia enters a family, many children are left trying to make sense of confusing emotions and changes without the language or support they need. We talk about growing up in Monaghan, the pressure of perfectionism, family life, music, teaching and the life-changing moment when Aimee realised something wasn't quite right with her dad. This is a conversation about compassion, resilience and why we need to create more space for honest conversations about dementia - especially with children. ✨ In this episode: Growing up in Monaghan with three older sisters Music, competitions and the pressure of perfectionism Becoming a primary school teacher Missing out on her dream college course and learning resilience Why failure isn't really failure The early signs of her father's dementia Living with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's How dementia affects family relationships Supporting a parent who no longer recognises you The role grandparents play in children's lives Why we need to talk to children about ageing and illness Caring for loved ones with dignity and compassion The emotional impact on spouses and caregivers Writing a children's book about dementia Learning to be kinder to yourself You can find Aimee here:   / aimeeowens87   | https://www.goloudplayer.com/episodes... You can find Aisling Ní Domhnaill   / the_a.n.d_project   and Sound Quality Gifts   / soundqualitygifts  . ____ 🕒 YouTube Chapters & Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Welcome to Aimee Owens 04:50 - Growing up in Monaghan & life with three older sisters 09:45 - Music, competitions & perfectionism 12:35 - Why she always wanted to teach 23:35 - Missing out on teaching college & learning resilience 33:15 - Her father's dementia diagnosis 40:30 - The first signs something wasn't right 43:10 - Caring for a parent with dementia 44:00 - Watching her mother's role change 46:10 - When her dad stopped recognising where he was 48:00 - Music, memory & emotional connection 49:00 - Why children need help understanding dementia 51:00 - Writing a children's book about dementia 52:25 - Learning to be kinder to yourself 59:55 - Final question ____ BeBelle is a podcast hosted by Sian Horn that dives into the stories of remarkable people behind their businesses. BeBelle is not a business podcast, it's about uncovering the moments of resilience, creativity and determination that have shaped these entrepreneurs. Sian is dedicated to empowering individuals in all aspects of life and believes in the importance of self-care, which manifests differently for everyone. Guests share their own self-care practices, offering listeners fresh perspectives on nurturing their well-being. Tune in to BeBelle for inspiring stories, actionable advice and thoughtful reflections on what it means to navigate life today. Join the BeBelle Community: https://www.bebelle.ie/ | / bebelle_podcast | https://www.instagram.com/sian_horn?i... | ‪@sianhorn228‬