‘I was taking it out on him’: BBC Breakfast presenter Nina Warhurst says she feels guilty for being angry at her father being forgotten as she battles dementia
- If you have been affected by anything in this article, please call the Dementia UK helpline on 0800 888 6678
BBC presenter Nina Warhurst says she feels guilty about losing patience with forgetting her father as she struggles with the degenerative symptoms of dementia.
The political editor has filmed a short film for the BBC in which she sheds light on the plight of people living with dementia and the broader impact it has on family members who must care for their loved ones.
Warhurst, 42, and her sisters Amy and Mel are currently jointly caring for elderly father Chris, who was diagnosed with the condition in 2022, but the presenter admitted she is still accepting the toll it has already taken on her cognitive ability.
“We were lucky my dad never got angry,” he told BBC Breakfast’s Monday edition. “I know that this can happen with different forms of dementia, but he didn’t understand what was happening.
“When we had conversations about changing the settings, maybe taking a breather, he thought nothing was wrong.
Opening: BBC presenter Nina Warhurst says she feels guilty about losing patience with forgetting her father as she struggles with the degenerative symptoms of dementia
Family: Warhurst and her sisters Amy and Mel currently care for their elderly father Chris together, who was diagnosed with the condition in 2022.
“Having to tell lies all the time broke your heart, but it was the best thing for him.” There were times when “if I don’t lie to him to get us over this bump, we’re not going to get there.”
‘And he’d call me 10 times a day, saying ‘I need you to come over’ and then he’d come over and say ‘What are you doing here?’
She added: “At that point, it’s hard not to get mad and that was the surprising thing, I felt really guilty because I was getting mad at him.”
“I was taking it out on him and he had two little kids at home that he didn’t see as much and he wasn’t focused on work, there are these ripples that go through your family as well.”
Dementia, a degenerative condition with no known cure, commonly affects the brain’s ability to think, remember and function normally, and patients often lose their memory over time.
Heartwarming: The political editor has filmed a short film for the BBC in which she sheds light on the plight of people with dementia.
Emotional: Warhurst was seen breaking down while speaking about his father’s degenerative condition
Sad: On Instagram last year, Warhurst admitted she was devastated after her dad didn’t recognize her
On Instagram last year, Warhurst admitted she was devastated after her father didn’t recognize her.
Sharing a photo of her and Chris, she wrote: ‘My dad. I missed him so much this week. Dementia means it’s here, but not here. Today was the first time she couldn’t locate me.
Then he took out a new glasses case. He was clearly happy about it, but he knew it was fun to be happy about a new eyeglass case.
“Somehow, he taught me to laugh. Correctly from the tummy. And laugh at myself.
She added: We all hold on to those deep-seated connections for as long as we can. Dementia is not the end. It is the beginning of a new chapter.
‘Much respect to your key worker today who told me it’s about appreciating those connections, rather than missing the ones we’ve lost. The staff are superstars and mean the world.’
If you have been affected by anything in this article, please call the Dementia UK helpline on 0800 888 6678.