GGAT - Gays Get Alzheimer’s Too

07/02/2026

I'm going to put up list of drag artists from my era.
If you knew them well or just know their drag history please let us know about them so they can go on Granny's Hall of Fame.

I've done Shuff
The Dumbells
Lee Sutton
Miss Jason
Phill Star
Lee Paris
Aunty's Flo
Dockyard Doris
Sandy Graham
The Harlequeens
Guys in Disguise
Dave Lynn
Maisy Trollette
Regina Thong
Bow
Steve Francis
George Logan
Ron Storm
Dereck Reece
If anyone could write a piece about any of these acts Granny will include them in our Hall of Fame and then their names are there for posterity.
Click the link to take you to Shuffs Story

Hearing stories of other LGBTQ people’s experiences of living with dementia and Alzheimer’s reminds us that we’re not alone. Read some of the inspiring stories and messages of people from all around the UK, including Granny Smyth herself.

05/02/2026

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Tara Kay, Amanda Duke, Sarah Owen

21/01/2026

Here at Gay's Get Alzhiemer's Too we are often asked,

WHAT IS DEMENTIA
Dementia is a group of symptoms of memory loss, confusion, poor communication, and is not a normal symptom of ageing.
Alzheimer's is the most common symptom.
Effecting millions of people world wide and 70k of our own LGBTQ UK community who are all living longer hence the amount of people living with dementia is only expected to rise.
The most common causes of dementia are Alzheimers disease,
Vascular Dementia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Frontotemperal Dementia.
Whilst symptoms are mild at the onset over time they get progressively worse eventually effecting daily tasks of living
Affecting the elderly, sometimes due to those living longer however young onset dementia can effect those under 65.
Because of the many causes there is no one fits all when it comes to a cure so symptoms have to be managed by your GP or your medical team.
Please ask your GP if you are worried about any of your loved ones current health issues as early diagnosis is essential.

Like and share guys.

Why not become friends of Granny Smyth or follow G**s Get Alzhiemer's Too to get involved.

If you are gay or gay friendly or a gay person caring for their mum dad, gran or grandad then come and join us in the fight against dementia.
We,d love to hear from you
Let's fight Dementia together.

Links in the first comment

18/01/2026

Let us know how you cope with the particular strain of Alzhiemer's your loved one is living with.
Your engagement helps other members to come to terms with the daily situations that occur.
Click the link to send in your story
Like and share guys

https://www.ggat.uk/stories?_gl=1*1kse3sz*_up*MQ..*_ga*MjEwMzQzMDk0NS4xNzY4NzMyMzMx*_ga_2B8SDL748D*czE3Njg3MzIzMzAkbzEkZzAkdDE3Njg3MzIzMzAkajYwJGwwJGgw

03/01/2026

Engaging in Dialogue, text or pictures to our GGAT ( G**s Get Alzhiemer's Too) group will help the group grow, providing more help and support to our members living with dementia
It could be something that you personnaly share with the group that helps another member to cope when feeling exhausted.

Helping others that have gone through or who are still going through the same situation as you have can be just the support someone needs.

Please in 2026 let's talk to each other.
Your personal stories can be heartwarming, funny, upsetting helpful or emotional so please send in your experiences so we can join together to fight dementia
Links in the first comments

Hearing stories of other LGBTQ people’s experiences of living with dementia and Alzheimer’s reminds us that we’re not alone. Read some of the inspiring stories and messages of people from all around the UK, including Granny Smyth herself.

16/12/2025

Drink and Dementia at xmas

People with a form of Dementia can still enjoy a drink at xmas and new year but it can depend on the stage of Dementia in question and the amount of alcohol to be consumed, it is reccomended to keep alcoholic drinks to a minimum and check medications currently taken which may allow a small amount of alchohol.
Alcohol requires caution and sensible thought so you could go down the non alcoholic route and use smoothy's or fruit water using easy to hold clear cups or holders but still remembering to say cheers happy xmas 🍾🥂🥤🧋🍷

15/12/2025

MUSIC CAN

Using music as Theropy

Music can reduce agitation
and calm aggressive behaviour.

Music can improve a patients mood,reduce depression and create more awareness

Music can boost memory and boost cognitive function and re call.

Music can improve communication

Music can help to retain the patients identity when playing or singing.
Using a playlist from the patients personal era can help to reminiss.

Music can be classed as therapy and NICE have reccomended it as a powerful tool to improve life.

You know what to do now go and put some music on to create a NICE happy atmosphere.

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Donations
wwwm://www.justgiving.com/campaign GGAT

Where LGBTQ members can voice their experiences, concerns and solutions of caring for a loved one suffering from a Dementia related illness

13/12/2025

Granny was asked last week about end stage dementia and to be honest Granny has had to do research into it as she was not totally up to speed on it however GGAT is a new group and we are learning along with our members as we go forward.
So this information is what Granny found so far.

What do the end stages of Dementia look like.

As your loved one moves on to the end stages of Dementia they are going to need much more help and support as their brains are loosing their ability to communicate, coordinate and respond.
There will be significant changes in mobility and walking may become more difficult if possible at all. They may lean forward, take shorter steps, lean to one side and start shuffling along.
Your loved one may just want to sleep round the clock, 16 to 20 hrs per day is quite normal.
Eating will become difficult with swallowing becoming an issue while food is often chewed in the mouth for longer.
Often food is totally refused.
Control of bladder and bowel function can be lost.
Stiffness in the joints of your loved one can occur and they may experience jerking movements with hands and feet curling inwards.
Summing up I think you can see that the end stage is not only difficult for the patient but it can be a very exhausting time for the carer having to deal with knowing the final journey is close to its end.
Here at GGAT we always recomend that carers look after themselves too because if you become tired, exhausted and emotionally drained you are unable to care in the way you would like and at this already difficult time we know you want to give as much comfort and care towards the patient as you can. For what ever reason you are the one who was chosen to care for the patient and herexat GGAT we know that you would want their passing to be as painless and comfortable as it can be.

Often at the end of life a patient will have some package in place to help them through the end stage or you can talk to people like Mari Cure who along with others offer palliative nursing care, or palliative hospice care.
Google your own area for local results.

Granny sincerely hopes this helps our members but if you have any questions then please get back to us and we will do our very best to research further and reply to your questions with local or national help and support groups.

If you have already gone through
the final stages of Dementia and you feel you can now share your experiences Granny knows our members would love to read your stories.
Sharing experiences can often help others to cope.
Please use the comments to send in your experiences. 💜💜 XX

Website
www.ggat.uk

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ggat

Donations
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/GGAT

Where LGBTQ members can voice their experiences, concerns and solutions of caring for a loved one suffering from a Dementia related illness

11/12/2025

Being alone with the one you have lived with all your life and now have to care for that person can be sole destroying as the disease travels along its journey.

Alzhiemer's slowly takes away the person you once new.
Was it your mum your dad your sibling, your gran or grandad or just a great friend.
Maybe he was so strong and handsome or she was feminine and pretty but now they are frail and in need of loving support.

When it gets difficult try and remember the good times you shared and the lifetime bonds you created over time.
Mainly Granny's members find though difficult, love will get you over the difficult times when your grieving for the person you knew or the future together that has been taken from you yet you cary on being protective and reasuring offering comfort where you can, keeping your loved one safe and generally accepting the hand that has been dealt.
You may feel anger, sadness and frustration or guilt and feel ashamed sometimes when you find it difficult to cope. DONT.
You are doing a great job but if there is help out there please ask for it, it can be a lifesaver for some carers.
Try not to correct a patient if they say something wrong just agree with them and get onto their wave length and try and join in happier moments or redirect the conversation to a different topic.
If in the latter stages of Dementia the patient may be unable to talk anymore, with gentle touching or sign language or through different textures or smells this is easily overcome.
Keep an old photo album handy and go though it together to encourage reminiscence.
To reduce anxiety and confusion stick to your daily routine as best you can.
Nobody is perfect and no two days are the same so just take each day as it comes and face the day in a calm manor.
Overloading of emotions can lead to anxiety too so try not to get upset in front of the patient as they won't understand the situation that may have upset you .
If your not coping then ask for help from your family your friends or the authorities.
Often families leave the caring up to one family member to take the whole burden of caring when that is purely selfish so ask the carer if there is something you could do to help take the strain.
If you have lost your loved one this passed year and the feelings of grief are still weighing on your mind, like could I have done more ?

Granny feels nobody could do more than you and all the other carers couldn't have done more for their loved ones but there is often this feeling of inadequacy after death.
All Granny can say is time is a great healer memories never fade but can ease in time.

If you feel things are getting too much at times then join a social media or online group like our own GGAT group for the LGBT community where you can chat with like minded members going through the same experiences as your self and often have tried and tested solutions to recurring problems.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ggat

Dementia UK or the Alzheimer's Society who cater mainly for the strait community do include gay support in their work and have telephone help lines where specialist advisors will chat with you.

Don't try and do everything yourself there is help out there though at times you have to do your research.

Alzhiemer's Society Dementia Connect support line though not specifically for the gay folk but includes us in their support.
Until we fight to be individually included or recognised as part of the wider community they are one of the best options available.

Tel 0333 150 3456
Click the link for carer support

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/help-dementia-care/getting-support

Dementia UK
You can call them for support on
0800 888 6678 to speak to a dementia advisor or Admiral nurse.
Remember their is no shame in asking for help the job you are doing as a carer is phenominal and here at GGAT we are proud of every single one of you.
Links in the first comment

18/09/2025

Alchohol related dementia

Many gay people drink a little too much for what ever reason I guess its their decision.
Many live alone and turn to the bottle for solace and many like to socialise through drink.
In moderation that is all fine however drinking to excess on a regular basis can lead to cognitive decline and brain damage including memory loss and personality change.
Alcohol is toxic which can shrink the brain, or interfere with the brains messaging and cause a vitamin deficiency of B1which can often be attributed to malutrition and can if not treated lead to a severe deficiency causing conditions like Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome.

Alcohol is well known for an increase in blood pressure and it is possible that a patient can suffer a stroke which in turn can lead to vascular dementia due to damaged blood vessels.

Symptoms to look out for.
Memory Loss
Difficulty in daily tasks
Change of personality

Total abstinence from alcohol can sometimes reverse the cognitive decline already in place as soon after diagnosis as possible
Of course even after treatment some decline can still be there.
If you or a friend are worried about alcohol related dementia please go and see your GP as a first step where they will arrange tests to be carried out and referrals to assessment teams who can help to get to the bottom of your symptoms.

Like and share guys, together we can make a difference

www.ggat.uk
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