#82 What living well with dementia looks like with Peter Berry and Deb Bunt

In this episode it is my pleasure to talk with Peter Berry and Deb Bunt. Peter was diagnosed at 50 with early onset Alzheimer’s.

Previously the owner of a thriving timber business, Peter’s life changed upon the diagnosis.  He has emerged through depression and two suicide attempts to be a passionate advocate of living well with dementia.  A keen cyclist, Peter has used his cycling to raise money for and awareness of Alzheimer’s.  He is often seen cycling around rural Suffolk on his penny farthing bike.

Deb retired to Suffolk from London and found a new purpose in life when she befriended Peter.  One of Deb’s ambitions had been to be a publisher author and meeting Peter has enabled her to achieve this. Her friendship with Peter has also instilled a new-found confidence in Deb which she describes as a wonderful gift from Peter.

We talk about what living well means to Peter and the legacy he is creating through his work.

Key messages from guest

• Peter shares how he promotes that life is not over with a dementia diagnosis it is just different

• Deb talks about how she met Peter and how they began their cycling adventure together

• Living well with dementia for Peter means continuing to cycle and “keeping the bits from my eyebrows down healthy”

• Peter talks about walking beside dementia

• Changes such as changing personality and frustration are explored by Peter

• Deb talks about simple but valuable adaptations that she has made to keep pace with Peter’s changing needs

• Deb describes their friendship as a friendship that lives in the moment and how important it is

• Peter describes how he lives with dementia, but how the people around him suffer with dementia

• Peter describes the importance of leaving a legacy and we hear the impact of Peter’s work

Resource

• Read Slow Puncture: Living Well With Dementia  

• Find out more about Peter through his website: PETER BERRY LIVING WITH DEMENTIA 

• Find out more about Peter and his dementia journey through his YouTube channel 

• Access the link  to hear Peter's radio catch up with Georgy Jamieson BBC Radio Suffolk - monthly catch up 

• Follow Peter and Deb on Twitter (X)

  • @PeterBe1130

  • @debbunt

Bio: 

Peter Berry (59) was diagnosed at 50 with early onset Alzheimer’s.  He was given a life expectancy of between 8 to 10 years.  Previously the owner of a thriving timber business, Peter’s life changed upon the diagnosis.  He has emerged through depression and two suicide attempts to be a passionate advocate of living well with dementia.  A keen cyclist, Peter has used his cycling to raise money for and awareness of Alzheimer’s.  He is often seen cycling around rural Suffolk on his penny farthing bike.

Deb Bunt (62) retired to Suffolk from London five years ago and found a new purpose in life when she befriended Peter.  One of Deb’s ambitions had been to be a publisher author and meeting Peter has enabled her to achieve this. Her friendship with Peter has also instilled a new found confidence in Deb which is a wonderful gift from Peter.