episode 3 - Mindfulness
In this episode of The Dementia Download, we're focussing on dementia and mindfulness. We’ll be exploring what mindfulness is, from its ancient roots to modern uses, and how it benefits people whose lives are affected by dementia. We’ll also be sharing some simple exercises that you can try out for yourself.
Narrated by MDFR presenter Roger Hill
This month’s guests are Gemima Fitzgerald: a clinical psychologist, Roy Foden: a former Auxiliary Nurse who was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia 14 years ago, and Nick Stolerman, who has practiced mindful meditation personally, and professionally, for many years.
You can find the free mindfulness project at: freemindfulness.org
Narration is by Roger Hill, with a script by Alisha Riley. Produced and edited by Nat Gavin, with additional research and interviewing by Maisie Kennedy.
Music in this episode is by Don Beacham, a man living with dementia.
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Roger Hill (the host) opens the episode by welcoming listeners back to The Dementia Download. He explains that this month’s focus is mindfulness and dementia — what mindfulness is, where it comes from, how it’s used today, and how it can support people living with dementia and those who care for them. He introduces the guests: clinical psychologist Dr Jemima Fitzgerald, former auxiliary nurse Roy Foden, who lives with Lewy body dementia, and Nick Stolerman, a long‑time practitioner of mindful meditation.
Roger turns first to Jemima, asking her to explain what mindfulness actually is. Jemima smiles at the question — she says it’s a term people use all the time, but often misunderstand. Mindfulness, she explains, is simply paying attention on purpose. It’s noticing what’s happening inside your body and around you, tuning into your senses, and staying present without judging whatever you notice. She emphasises that it’s not about emptying your mind or achieving some special state — it’s about observing, not striving.
She goes on to describe how mindfulness entered clinical practice. In the 1970s, Jon Kabat‑Zinn began using it with patients experiencing chronic pain that wasn’t responding to treatment. Over time, their symptoms improved. The NHS later adopted mindfulness‑based cognitive therapy for depression, and it’s now widely used for stress, emotional regulation, and pain management.
Roger asks about the spiritual roots of mindfulness, and Jemima acknowledges that it originated in Buddhist philosophy. But she stresses that the clinical version is completely secular — no spiritual content, no religious practice. She mentions that she herself is Christian and uses mindfulness purely as a sensory‑based, present‑moment tool.
The conversation shifts to Roy, who laughs as he recalls his first encounter with mindfulness. A psychiatric nurse suggested it, and Roy admits he didn’t know what to expect. He even tried yoga first, but found himself the only man in a room full of women in leotards — “not for me,” he jokes. When he finally tried mindfulness, he wasn’t convinced at first, but gradually realised he was enjoying it. It surprised him how well it worked.
Roger then asks Jemima about common barriers people face. She says many people think mindfulness requires an empty mind, which feels impossible when you’re stressed or overwhelmed. She reassures listeners that minds wander — that’s normal — and mindfulness is simply the act of gently bringing your attention back. Others worry they’ll “fail” at mindfulness because they’re not naturally calm. Jemima argues the opposite: people who feel busy, restless, or stressed often benefit the most.
She also talks about the fear of feeling sad if you slow down. Many people distract themselves from difficult emotions. Mindfulness encourages noticing feelings without attaching meaning to them — letting them pass like clouds drifting across the sky.
Roger asks about the benefits, and Jemima explains that mindfulness can reduce stress and anxiety, help regulate emotions, improve relaxation, and support people living with chronic pain. It doesn’t remove symptoms, but it can change how people experience them.
Roy jumps in to describe how mindfulness helps him personally. Living with Lewy body dementia means dealing with stress, physical pain, and sometimes hallucinations when he’s overtired. Mindfulness helps him “switch off” from the noise of life, calm his body, and reduce pain. Sometimes he even uses mindfulness instead of pain medication, and it works well for him. He practises three times a day and wishes he’d discovered it years earlier.
Jemima adds that mindfulness can help people with dementia feel calmer, safer, and more grounded. It can also help carers — reducing stress, improving sleep, building resilience, and easing feelings of guilt or self‑criticism. She highlights research showing that when carers and people with dementia practise together, the benefits can be stronger and longer‑lasting, and the shared experience can deepen their connection.
Roger then moves the conversation toward practical exercises. Jemima introduces the body scan, a simple technique where you move your attention slowly through the body from head to toe, noticing sensations. It’s accessible, calming, and helps reconnect mind and body.
Roy describes how he does his own body scan: lying down in loose clothing, in a cool room, sometimes with Gregorian chant playing. He places his hands on his diaphragm to feel his breathing, then moves his attention through his head, torso, stomach, legs, and arms. Sometimes he raises a limb to feel the muscles working. He says the practice can last ten minutes or even two hours — whatever feels right. He also does a seated version to focus on the sensations in his feet.
Nick then recommends Kirtan Kriya, a traditional yogic meditation. He explains that unlike most mindfulness practices, Kirtan Kriya has strong scientific evidence showing it increases blood flow to brain areas linked to memory and learning. It’s used to help slow cognitive decline in early dementia and also reduces stress for carers. He begins describing the components of the practice — the mantra, the hand movements, the rhythm — as the episode continues
