An 18-year-old aspiring journalist has turned a college film project into a moving tribute to her grandad and a call for greater awareness of Lewy body dementia.
Aaliyah Evans, from Abram in Wigan, created If Through Time while studying Media, Broadcast and Production at Winstanley College. Asked to film something she cared about, she chose her grandad, Thomas Taylor.
“I just felt like Lewy body dementia doesn’t really get represented,” she said. “People in my class didn’t even know what it was. They knew what dementia was, and I just thought it was important to share his story a little bit, share what he’s been passionate about and the memories he has.”
Thomas, now 73, was diagnosed more than ten years ago. His family first noticed changes in his movement, handwriting and ability to complete familiar practical tasks.
He was initially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease before a neurologist who knew him recognised Lewy body dementia. Thomas has lived in a care home for three years after repeated falls and infections made it unsafe for him to remain at home alone.
His daughter Vicki said understanding of the condition remains limited, even among professionals.
“I don’t think they understand why it’s so fluctuating,” she said. “We used to have good days and bad days, but we say good minutes, bad minutes now. It changes that often.”
The film dramatises Thomas’s younger years before bringing viewers into the present day. Aaliyah’s friends and family appear in it, while her other grandad, John Evans, provides the voiceover.
Thomas had a urinary tract infection and aspiration pneumonia when the present-day scenes were filmed. The family had been told to expect the worst, but continued because he had supported Aaliyah’s plans.
Aaliyah said filming Thomas looking through a photograph album brought sadness and happiness together.
“You can see he is still there. When he’s pointing at people in the footage, he is recognising people,” she said.
For Aaliyah, it was important that the film showed Thomas as a whole person.
“That is still my grandad,” she said. “These are the things he’s been through, and these are the people who love him and are there for him for as long as he’s here. And just kind of celebrate his life.”
Lewy body dementia can share symptoms with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, but often has a distinct pattern. People may experience pronounced fluctuations in attention and alertness, visual hallucinations, changes in movement similar to Parkinson’s disease, disturbed sleep, falls and fainting, alongside problems with thinking and memory. Symptoms vary considerably and may change over minutes or hours.
Jacqui Cannon, Chief Executive of the Lewy Body Society, said: “Aaliyah has created a thoughtful and moving film which shows the person at the heart of a Lewy body dementia diagnosis. By sharing Thomas’s life and her family’s experience so honestly, she will help more people recognise and understand a condition that remains far too little known.”
Thomas has recovered from the infections. He watched the film and smiled as he recognised the family photographs. Aaliyah is now preparing to study journalism at the University of Salford.
“It’s sharing my grandad’s story and the story of probably all the people who’ve got Lewy body dementia as well,” she said. “I’d love for people to be able to see it.”
