With up to 70 coaches delayed overnight as they tried to cross to france. Port authorities in dover cited French Border controls and bad weather for the hold ups. Youre watching bbc news. Now its time for dementia fighting for my wife. This is the story of the cruelest of diseases. Devastatingly hard, watching the woman that you love starting to disappear from your life. The story of struggling for care, against a failing system. Push. I had to fight every single day, for years, in order to achieve very little. The social care system, everyone knows its broken. And a story of love and commitment that has spanned a lifetime. It didnt matter what kind of adversity came our way, we would get through it together, and thats what we did right up until the end. Bill and jo invited us into their home, and into their lives, for one reason to see the reality of living with dementia. Its summer 2022, and im in newcastle to follow the story ofjo wilson. Hi,jo. Are you washing up . No, im trying to get something out for me dinner. Thats drjo wilson, phd. She was a high flying, Globe Trotting career woman. She was damn good at what she did and had an international reputation. Now, its come to this. Do you know how old you are . Do i know how old i am . Of course i know how old i am. How old are you . How old am i . Mm i dont know, because i havent made my mind up yet. The isolation of alzheimers is devastating to see. My number one girl. This isjos story, but its bills story, too. I love you to bits, dont i . Hes desperate for a break, but doesnt know where to turn. Stand up. Help me, jo, help me. I was trying to help you. No, dont sit down again. Stand up. I phoned 42 care homes to look for a Respite Bed Forjo and didnt get one that was prepared to. To offer respite care. The social care system, everyone knows its broken. Jump in the car. In the car . Yeah, were going out to do some shopping. And werejoining them. Oh, no. Come on, were getting out. No, im not talking to anybody. Im just going to sleep. With alzheimers, everything gets harder. Wait. Jo. Even a routine supermarket run. Jo. Jo, hang on. Jo, this way. Im not going shopping at all. Im going home. Dont walk away, please. Jo. I have to pay. What . How was that shop . Better than normal. Better than normal . Better than normal. Its such hard work, though. Is this sustainable . Well, bill wants to keepjo at home, but hes realistic. Ive looked into Residential Care and, you know, Residential Care costs £1,500 a week. You heard that right. £1,500 a week. A few care homes charge less, many charge a lot more. Im going to put our pyjamas on. Its thought that more than 200,000 people will develop the disease in 2023. Theres your tablets and water. Its bedtime forjo. You need some, because youve just put a tablet in. I didnt put a tablet in. But no rest for bill. It took me two years to get a care package in place forjo, and i only got that becausejo had a collapse at home and was ta ken into hospital. Illjust put it over your head. But it didnt solve bills problems. Forjo, her dementia means that Changing Care Staff and rigid timetables dont really work. And so. Thats it. It� s back to bill. Nice and comfy. Finally, jo is settled, and bills hoping for some sleep. If only its now 5 05. It took me so long to actually wake up. By the time id seen it, it was too late. So now, the beds wet. What kind of husband doesnt put his wife first . Im just so tired. Three hours later, and were back to check in on them. How are you . Come in, please. Im not good today. This is what exhaustion looks like. Its devastatingly hard, watching the woman that you love starting to disappear from your life, starting just to fade away somewhere, and almost 47 years together, was leaving me. And it was like, i dont want you to leave me. I need you here, with me. Im so tired. I really would like you just to do simple things to help me. Bills getting jo ready for the dementia day centre. She goes a couple of times a week. A Welcome Break for bill. 0n the white, 78. And a change of scene forjo. Right, eyes down i for your first house. Its time for bingo. 21. Ive teamed up withjo. Are you 0k, love . It takes dedication to keep this Small Charity in business, forjo and for all of those who come here. It looked like there was a pool of water in here. Bev� s asked us along to see how things run. You are the chief executive. Yeah. Youre looking at puddles in the kitchen we just all have to muck in here. Thats right, bev reid is the boss of the entire dementia matters operation here. As well as the day centre, the Charity ProvidesResidential Care a 24 7 operation. Its not home time yet. Bev says theres a crisis in the care sector. Jeremy, it shouldnt be this bloody hard. Day in, day out, it feels like were living on the edge. The finances, the challenges around worrying about income, about bills. Whats your mood now . Frustrated. Angry. Because it really does feel like a forgotten agenda. Are we all right, alan . Whats needed is more sams. Are we going to read back through more memory lanes . More jameelas. John, john. More robs. Everybody hungry . And thats something the government says its committed to fixing, but better pay would surely help. Simple question, why cant you pay them more . Love to pay them all more. I cant pay them more because nobody� s willing to pay me more, the organisation more. And its Money Worries for bill back at home as well, with autumn around the corner. Lets just see how much gas and electric were using today. Scare the life out of me. The cost of most illnesses is covered by the health service, but with dementia, families can face huge bills. There is a huge disparity between being ill that is treatable by the nhs and having the illness of dementia, which is local authority care. Why . I dont understand. Because she has dementia, nothings free. The government says that theyve increased funding into research for the latest treatments. Youre going to have your tea now. But huge bills, rising costs, Staff Shortages mean a care system stretched beyond capacity. We need the government to put this top of the agenda, because if you think about what happens to people with dementia, currently, the diagnosis is late and the care and support that they need is not there. And what happens is that people will end up in hospital, often in crisis. This is a crisis that we need to support and focus on now. The government says theyve set aside £17 million to help those waiting for a dementia diagnosis. If things sound bleak, well, they can be. Hello but for bill and jo, there are positives too. A midweek night with the family. Oh, what have you got . A bond that cuts through the fog of dementia. Poor gerald felt so sad. Steve, niece debbie and their kids, creating memories with auntiejo. At the beginning. Its so special to see that, and heartbreaking at the same time, to know that it will come to an end at some point soon. But i think if anybody can help bill through whatever may come in the future, itll be them two little children. And theres something else, too, bill and jo have each other. If you had jo back for a moment, a lucid moment, what would you say to her, bill . I love you. Nothing else. We start our programme tonight with the story of one familys experience of living with dementia. We broadcast our first story about bill and Jo On Bbc News in october 2022. Jo has alzheimers disease. It struck a chord. I had the most phenomenal worldwide response to that. Letters addressed to, bill and jo wilson, bbc news story, newcastle upon tyne. So were back, to see how theyre doing. People would be thinking that things couldnt have got worse for bill and jo. Im sitting here today, jeremy, saying, things have got dramatically worse. Worse because the carers who were coming twice a day. Up you get. Are now not coming at all. And the sad thing was, they had onlyjust recognised that we needed more care. They actually withdrew all care . Everything, everything. Newcastle City Council Told us the Care Provider they use simply dont have the people to care forjo. The system has writtenjo off, but not onlyjo, me too. And how many other thousands of people is the system writing off now . Are you 0k . Im 0k. Well, not really 0k. For bill, this is a new low. So bev� s come to the rescue. A plan to help take the pressure off. My mental and physical health are deteriorating rapidly. So now, after day care, jo is taken to the residential Unit Upstairs at the bradbury, where she has tea and shes dressed for bed. Its not mine, it hasnt got her name on it. But after that, its back in the car. Seatbelt on. And every night, bill copes alone. Its becoming too much. Things have got to the point where i really have to consider Residential Care forjo. Its not what i ever wanted to happen. But the bradbury has its problems too. Theyve prepared a new Residential Care bedroom perfect forjo, but still empty. We cant have jo here as a resident until all the Approvals Process is complete. Bureaucracy means frustrating delays, and all at a time when theres a National Shortage of care home beds. Itsjust a sin, really. The system is letting people like jo down at the moment. Hello, are you all right . Can i come in . Yes. Why not . Betty. Approval comes from the care quality commission, which says it cant compromise safety for speed. Get you tucked in. The government says its making a Huge Investment in social care. Night night, then. There is no tomorrow forjo and me. 0ur tomorrow has come and gone. Night night. Its the new year. Im back in newcastle. Hello. Greetings. Theres word from bill. Trouble, i hear . Bad news. Im just beyond. Are you . Beyond everything. Jos had a nasty bout of flu. Im going round and round in circles. And the cruel grip of alzheimers is tightening, as the days and weeks slip by. Today, jos Childhood Friend christine is here to help. Little wee sip. For this internationally recognised, successful woman, daily life is now a huge challenge. I thought i was beyond exhausted the last time i saw you, jeremy. That was a walk in the park, compared to where i am now. Bill now accepts thatjo needs full time care and wants her at the Bradbury Centre, with bev. But bev� s still waiting for confirmation that the room can be used. Can i have a little i listen to your chest . Is that 0k . Jo is struggling. Bring that top up. Bill has called the doctors surgery and carolines here to help. Youre doing really good. At this point, with no Residential Care place, a Hospital Admission could be on the cards. Your heart is a wee bit fast. Clearly, bill thinks thats a bad idea. When the oxygens that low, you would normally pop to hospital. Right, and im going to say no. I thought you might. But then, theres a call. Hi, bill . From bev. Hi, bev. Youre on speakerphone. Confirmation from the regulator that the room forjo can now be used. Bill, were ready when youre ready. 0k. Is this a green light now . Yes. Sojo can move into that room . Yes. Brilliant. Its a game changer. Huge relief, but heartbreak too. Ive kind of built up to this moment, but when someone says it out loud, im devastated. Because its real . Yeah. And. I dont know what to do. Well, i know what i have to do. I dont have a choice. But. Its so hard. Its so hard. Moving jo here, into Residential Care, means shes less likely to need a costly hospital bed. And bev says shes ready to do more to relieve pressure on the nhs. We could extend and increase our day services by opening over the weekend. Just to be clear, if people are here then, for the most part, theyre not in a hospital . Exactly. Dementia takes so much from so many. For bill and jo, the reality is that this weekend will be their last days at home, under one roof, after 47 years together. A carsjust outside, waiting for you. Its monday morning, the 16th of january, 2023. A new week, a new hope. One big step, jo. After months of waiting, jo is finally leaving her home for a place in care. Bev is here to welcome her. Hows she done today with food . This is desperately needed support. Jo can now settle in. Here in the Bradbury Centre, starting her Residential Care. Shes in the right place. But then, three days later, we get an urgent call from bill. Thank you for coming. So weve come straight back to see him. Wouldnt be anywhere else, mate. So sorry. Its the saddest news. Jo is gravely ill. There is more to life than this disease. Look beyond it. Look at the person who you love so dearly. My special girl. This was meant to be a new chapter. Ive only got one thing on my mind, jeremy, and thatsjo. Shes got a couple of days left. I dont intend moving from her side. Thats where i belong. Christine is here to help. Youve got everybody here who loves you. Bev and the staff here have set up a bed for bill right next tojo. Youre safe, but you know something . If youre ready to go. Let go, because ill be ok. We receive her body into this church this morning. On behalf of everyone, we offer our condolences to bill. Drjo helen wilson died at 1 30 pm on saturday, the 21st of january, 2023. She was 69 years old. May she now share with christ in eternal glory. Drjosephine helen wilson, orjo, as we all came to know her. Bill asked me to read his words tojo. Jos always been strong and successful, passionate about her career and passionate about her family. She will be missed so much, by so many. The lord make his face to shine upon her and be gracious to her. I remember the strong, independent woman who knew exactly what she wanted, and it was myjob to make sure she had that right up until the end. And it was to that end that bill and jo wanted us alongside them, to show their story of dementia. I could not have asked for a better eulogy. It was fantastic. My pleasure. May your mercyjoin her to the angels in heaven. Dementia, we all need to understand it. Need to understand the real cost of it. What it means to families. For so many people, the same thing will be starting today. Theyll be just starting on this process today. Its bills first time back here at the Bradbury Centre sincejo died. Nice to see you. All right . Yeah. Surrounded by love and memories. All of us, we really missjo. She had real presence. The raised eyebrow, the wry smile, her sense of humor. She was a brave and admirable woman. It was honest and loving care. Care that meant so much. A tribute that bill wanted bev to hear. An absolutely unequivocal, huge thank you. I owe my life to bev. I may well not have been here now talking to you, had it not been for her. To me, shes just an absolute star. I feel really humbled by what i listened to there. I always feel i should do my very best every day for the people that need us. Thank you for being so kind and saying those wonderful words. I wont ever forget them. Thank you. My pleasure. Bill is now looking ahead. Whatever i do Going Forward will be done injos name, and it has to bejos legacy. Committed to change, so thatjo didnt die in vain. Im surejos looking down on me now saying, you have one job to do, and thats to drive the dementia agenda forward. Dont you dare fail at this. That isnt an option. So bills teamed up with bev, the boss at dementia matters. Were still on a journey, arent we . We have a lot of work to do. To try to improve the lives of Dementia Patients and their families. Nobody should be suffering this dreadful and difficult time on their own. Its a cruel and awful disease. We need some political will to cut through that fog of, its too big, its too expensive. How do we take it forward . There are now plans for a new strategy in england to try and improve patient care. In the meantime, families struggle to navigate the system, desperate to give their loved ones the care and dignity that they deserve. It was a special love story. Didnt matter what kind of adversity came our way, we would get through it together. And. And thats what we did right up until the end. Hello. Many of us will have been waiting patiently and Crossing Ourfingers for some drier weather because march has certainly been a very wet month across much of the uk, particularly for parts of england, where its been the wettest march since 1981 over a0 years ago. Some places have had three times the expected march rainfall, but now we turn the calendar over to april and actually, through the weekend, things are going to be becoming drier and gradually brighter as well. Not dry everywhere today, weve still got low pressure close to the south east and weve got a Weather Frontjust draped across Western Areas as well. So thats going to bring some outbreaks of rain in parts of Northern Ireland, south west england, south wales as well. And from the east, with the breeze coming in from the north sea, thats going to import a lot of cloud and a few splashes of fairly light rain. Some sunshine here and there, particularly parts of northern scotland, perhaps a bit down towards wales into the midlands as well. Where you do see the breeze coming in, though, for Northeast England and eastern scotland, only about seven to nine degrees. The rest of us, typically around 11 to 13. By the afternoon, a few glimpses of sunshine here and there, but most places are fairly cloudy. Into the evening and overnight, we keep a fair amount of cloud and some spots of fairly light rain. That Weather Front in the West Graduallyjust easing away, fading out through the night, some clear spells developing for eastern areas. And there could just be A Touch Of Frost for prone parts of eastern scotland, for instance. Thats how we start sunday. Now, sunday will be an improving sort of day because High Pressure is eventually starting to build in, and thats going to clear the Weather Fronts away and mean lighter winds, a drier and a brighter day ahead for many of us. Still a little breezy for east anglia and the south east, but certainly more sunshine than weve seen of late. A little bit more Cloud Drifting across scotland, at times, Northern Ireland into wales and the south west of england, too. Still rather cool around the east, nine or ten degrees, but most of us, about 11 to 13. And of course, the sun is starting to feel a little bit stronger this time of year. So monday, then, High Pressure still very much with us. Weve got a couple of Weather Fronts sitting out here in the atlantic and, through the week, theyll try and nudge in from the west, but theyll bump into that area of High Pressure. So largely dry and settled, with lighter winds on monday. It is looking like a much improved day. It could be some overnight frost, though. So a bit of a chilly start to things. By the afternoon, though, temperatures between about ten to 13 degrees for most of us on monday. And then looking ahead through the rest of this coming week, then a lot of dry, unsettled weather, perhaps a little bit of rain through the middle of the week. But at the moment, it looks a little warmer and drier towards easter. Bye bye. This is bbc news welcome if youre watching here in the uk or around the globe. Our top stories. 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