WHEN Graham Tracey introduced his newborn son to his grandmother shortly before she died, he was saddened that she could not comprehend who the baby was.

But after becoming a Dementia Friend, he began to understand that her dementia did not stop her from feeling happiness at the newest addition to her family.

The Horwich father-of-one, who works as an independent financial advisor specialising in care fees planning advice, has lent his support to our Donate £1 for Dementia campaign.

Mr Tracey’s grandma Elsie Hocking, who lived in Cumbria, was in her early 90s when she died in 2011 just months after his son Vincent, now aged four, was born.

Mr Tracey, aged 44, said: “When I took Vincent to see my grandma she was happy to see us, but could not really comprehend who the baby was.

“Afterwards at first I felt a bit sad, and thought she would have forgotten about the meeting and that it did not mean anything.

“But after I became a Dementia Friend and went through the training I began to understand that the happiness she felt on that day will have stayed with her and had a positive effect.”

Mr Tracey, of St Annes Road, undertook the Alzheimer's Society's Dementia Friend training earlier this year through his role at Backhouse Independent Financial Services in Nelson.

He is now trained as a Dementia Champion and so can host training sessions, having done so at care homes in the borough and at Forrest Construction in Lostock.

Mr Tracey said his job means he has contact with a lot of elderly people and their families, some of whom have dementia.

He said: “When I first got involved in care fees planning advice I thought it might be sombre or depressing, but it actually feels very uplifting to see families rallying together.

“Everyone has a life story and I like hearing that and drawing it out.

There is more to someone with dementia than their dementia. It is about realising everyone is an individual.

Mr Tracey said The Bolton News’ Donate £1 Dementia campaign was a brilliant appeal that people in the borough should get behind.

He added: “People are conscious that we are all living longer, but not necessarily in good health.

“So many people have parents or grandparents in that situation, and it is not too much to ask for people to give £1 to help them.”

Our appeal, launched in partnership with Bolton NHS Charitable Fund, aims to raise £200,000 to make wards at the Royal Bolton Hospital more dementia-friendly.