Memories and Dementia: Starting the Conversation

The BBC has launched a one-week season across TV, iPlayer and Radio called Memories and Dementia: Starting the Conversation.

The season is being led by Dr Punam Krishan to help start conversations between those living with dementia and their friends, families and carers by evoking memories of their past through content from the BBC’s archive.

Programming and support for the season will come from across the BBC, including specially curated collections and a pop-up channel on BBC iPlayer, special films on Morning Live and The One Show, and features across the BBC’s radio network. Additionally, a major plotline on EastEnders has been furthering the conversation about young onset dementia. 

Ambassador for the Memories and Dementia: Starting the Conversation season Dr Punam, says: “Dementia can be a challenging condition to live with. I see patients with dementia in my practice – and know the strain the condition can place on people – as well as on their family and friends. One thing that can really help is reminiscence – using media like TV, pictures, or music, that captures history, or follows a familiar place, or interest, something that evokes memories which can help start a conversation with loved ones and carers.

“That’s why I’m delighted to be a part of this season – the BBC has played an important and significant part in all our lives here in the UK, and as a result programmes from its rich archive have worked their ways into our memories like nothing else. By collecting some of these programmes together on iPlayer we may be able to spark reminiscence, helping those people living with dementia to bring joy to the present by exploring memories of the past.

Read more about Memories and Dementia: Starting the Conversation here

This BBC pop-up channel is available for one week only: where can I access dementia-friendly television longer-term?

Established in 2020, our innovative streaming service My Life TV offers hundreds of hours of carefully selected and created content to meet the cognitive needs of people living with dementia. The wide range of programmes available include popular shows from the BBC archive, specially produced quizzes, singalongs, drawing and chair yoga, as well as animal and nature programmes, feel good content and more. 

Available for use at home or in care settings, My Life TV has been seen to improve the mood and wellbeing of people living with dementia, providing moments of calm, joy or stimulation as needed.

Start your My Life TV subscription today to access dementia-friendly content!

Joanna Warren at St Mary's Care Home, Hampton describes the positive effect of My Life TV on her residents: