Debbie Sturgess

Debbie became a part of the DAA following the diagnosis and subsequent passing of a very dear friend. Like so many others she had heard of dementia but found herself in the position of not knowing about the disease or what support was available. Through her own experiences she saw first hand the behaviour from others towards her friend and the difficulty in obtaining help when needed. Debbie became a dementia link and the with her dog Otis, trained to participate in the doggy café’s; during lockdown they played doggie bingo online with care homes. Debbie has M.E., and can identify with many of the factors around the stigma of dementia, the effects on peoples lives and the impact of family members and friends.