ITV’s Emmerdale Shines Light on Dementia

The current storyline on the popular ITV soap Emmerdale has touched the hearts of the nation and raised awareness on the damaging impact of dementia.

We have been captivated by Emmerdale Actor John Middleton’s portrayal of the resident vicar Ashley Thomas since he entered our screens in 1996 and we are now witnessing the effects of onset dementia on not only Ashley Thomas himself, but on those around him.

The narrative began with Ashley showing early signs of dementia through his cognitive decline; to the heartbreaking moment when on his wedding day, Ashley did not have the capacity to remember that earlier in that day he had committed his life “in sickness and in health” to his new wife Laurel.

With our aging population and the number of cases of dementia increasing along with it, there is no surprise that the diagnosis of Emmerdale’s Ashley Thomas with dementia is resonating with audiences.

Living with a partner, parent or even a child with dementia can be emotionally difficult to experience, with there being no known cause of dementia and unfortunately no known cure.

The script writers of Emmerdale sensitively highlighted the destructive effects of dementia with its recent storyline and this has hopefully raised public awareness to plan for the future. By organising a Lasting Power of Attorney and nominating those close to you to act on your behalf, in your best interests, should they be required to assist you in the future, you could ease the strain of your loved ones.

If you have any queries about Lasting Powers of Attorney, please contact a member of our legal team for more information.