Alan Saunders, a 52-year-old former lorry driver from Lewisham, experienced erratic behaviour and confusion that was initially misdiagnosed as depression, delaying his proper dementia diagnosis by three years. His partner of 36 years, Sharon Yardley, 44, spent two years accompanying him to medical appointments and chasing doctors before he was finally diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia in December 2025.
Behavioural Changes and Job Loss
Saunders' behaviour changed dramatically, leading to him losing his job as a lorry driver. He began rambling in meetings and getting into altercations at work, which resulted in his dismissal from Lewisham council. Yardley described his transformation as happening "almost overnight," noting he became obsessive about topics like death and lacked focus.
"It was like he hit self-destruct; he was not focused, he was erratic, his driving got really erratic," Yardley said. She added that before this, Saunders was a "laid-back, quiet man" who loved a quiet life and rarely spoke at work. "Everyone loved working with him, and then he lost his job at Lewisham council because he was saying weird things in meetings and getting into altercations," she explained.
Misdiagnosis and Inadequate Treatment
In 2023, a year after losing his job, Saunders was diagnosed with depression and prescribed antidepressants. Yardley took him to multiple doctors, who all concurred with the depression diagnosis and increased his medication by 10mg. He was also given counselling and a life coach through his work, but his behaviour continued to deteriorate.
Yardley, who works in customer service, said she was not convinced by the diagnosis. "I went back again two or three times and said surely it is not depression. Alan would just ramble, and it was weird," she recalled. The situation became so severe that she took Wednesdays off work to call the NHS, and she eventually had to sell his car because he kept driving dangerously.
Delayed Diagnosis and Impact on Family
After three years of fighting, Saunders was diagnosed with middle-to-late stage dementia in December 2025, following two home assessments, multiple sedatives, and a psychiatrist visit. Yardley believes the delay in diagnosis hindered the family's ability to support him and appeal his job loss.
"The whole time I just wanted him to get the right care. It was so frustrating getting a diagnosis; sometimes I feel like I failed him because it took so long," she said. "I don’t understand why it took so long when I was ringing and chasing doctors every week."
Saunders is now sectioned in the dementia ward at Bethlem Royal Hospital, London, after being moved from a hospital in Lewisham. Yardley, who also cared for her mother with dementia during the same period, highlighted the lack of support for younger dementia patients. "It is hard to find somewhere for a 52-year-old with dementia, there is just no support out there," she concluded.
