Wendy Mitchell, an advocate for dementia awareness, has passed away at 68 after a decade-long campaign. She was diagnosed with early onset dementia at 58 and gained recognition for her blog “Which Me Am I Today?” and three best-selling books on the subject. Mitchell, who worked for the NHS for 20 years prior to her diagnosis, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a final blog post titled “My Final Hug in a Mug.”
In the post, Mitchell detailed her resilience and the cruel tricks of dementia, recounting her first symptoms at 57 when she became disoriented and had to wait for the fog to clear. She also expressed her fears of losing recognition of her daughters and her independence.
Mitchell’s impactful work has been praised by Steve Milton of Innovations in Dementia, who called her a person of true bravery and compassion. Mitchell’s legacy has changed how people view dementia and enabled them to live their lives with less fear.
This news of Mitchell’s passing comes at a time when dementia awareness and research are more important than ever, given the growing number of individuals affected by the disease worldwide. Mitchell’s contributions will be remembered as part of a wider effort to destigmatize, raise awareness, and increase support for those living with dementia and their families.