Mary Jenkins had always had a good memory and worked with accounts but when dementia took its hold she started struggling to do the things she took for granted.

She was diagnosed with a form of the brain disease three years ago but had first shown symptoms earlier.

Her daughter Pat Clements said: "Mum had a brilliant memory and always worked with accounts and figures but was just starting to struggle.

"A couple of times I went down to mum's and found she had put things like cheese in the cupboard.

"She was also a big reader and that was becoming difficult for her."

Mrs Jenkins, who turned 80 on the weekend, also has Parkinson's disease, which was diagnosed at roughly the same time.

It was the specialist doctor she was referred to for the neurological condition that suggested Mrs Jenkins was referred to the mental health services because she might have dementia.

"We had a very distressing year and from that point on mum was never the same," said Mrs Clements, of Whitchurch.

"It was the culmination of a series of deaths in the family, including my sister, and mum closed down really.

"It was a while before people were thinking is it some kind of breakdown, or is it something else."

Pat now spends much of her time caring for Mrs Jenkins and they have started accessing support through a range of dedicated groups.

Mrs Clements, 58, runs the Whitchurch branch of Singing for the Brain, where people with dementia and their carers take part in a sing-along to stimulate their minds.

The group has now grown to about 45 people.

She also runs a similar programme for younger people with dementia who use The Limes day centre in Kingswood.

"Both mum and I are quite musical and we found that Singing for the Brain was something we could do together," said Mrs Clements, a self-employed IT consultant and trainer.

"There was one chap who came along and said he was not going to sing but by the end of week two he was and by week three he was asking for certain songs.

"There are lots and lots of good things that happen. Even though some people aren't able to remember the words or read the words they can join in with the calling or humming. It is quite encouraging."

It was the Singing for the Brain sessions that helped Mrs Clements and her mother find a carers group run by the Alzheimer's Society.

"Through the carers support group we have slowly found bits of information," she said.

"The Alzheimer's Society has been absolutely amazing; we have had lots of support, help and encouragement from them and from the people in the group as well."

Mrs Clements now sits on a group involved in the implementation of the Government's national dementia strategy in Bristol.

"Hopefully, I can give a very positive and strong voice as to how we feel things are," added Mrs Clements.

"Some people have had some really positive experiences and I think that should be the case for everybody."

Bryan Welling, of St George, also sits on the NHS board to share his views on dementia.

His wife was diagnosed with the condition in 2002 and at first he saw it as a stigma, but he has learnt that being open about her condition means people are more understanding.

Mr Welling, 70, has to feed, dress and wash Pat, 68, but said she is still the woman he married and has retained her sense of humour.

He said: "In the beginning we kept it to ourselves and, I am sad to say, we treated it as a stigma because we weren't used to it.

"But Pat hasn't changed really. She is the same person and when I realised it became an illness rather than a stigma."

Mr Welling, of St George, said that when he explains to people that his wife has dementia they are usually very understanding and that makes him more comfortable taking her out to shops with him.

Last year Mr Welling was diagnosed with prostate cancer and rather than undergoing treatment that could prevent him caring for his wife, he has opted for doctors to simply monitor his condition regularly.

The couple have been married for more than 45 years and the former electrical engineer is determined to continue caring for his wife.

"I try to take her everywhere with me; I just make people aware of her dementia," he said.

"Every morning when I get her up we have a little sing song because she loves music so starts the day laughing.

"She is still the same deep down and, as far as possible, I treat her the same.

"I make sure she looks nice because that is what she wants. I buy her clothes and do her hair for her."