Oxford man praises local support group for people with early dementia
Richard Chung and his wife Karen share how the group has helped them stay positive after his diagnosis
Last updated 26th Jan 2026
An Oxford man has expressed his gratitude for a local support group after his early-onset dementia diagnosis, describing how it has brought connection and positivity into his life.
Richard Chung was 57 when he was diagnosed with dementia in 2017, which he and his wife Karen said was “devastating.”
As a retired biomedical scientist, he said his knowledge of the condition made the diagnosis even more daunting.
“We came out of the meeting with the GP, crying our eyes out because we had all these plans, and when you say ‘dementia,’ all the plans go out the window,” Richard said.
Adding to this fear was the stigma around dementia, which often shows the worst parts of the condition.
“All the horrors go through your brain of everything you’ve seen on TV, TikTok, YouTube,” Richard said.
This made him hesitant to seek help or even admit what was happening to himself or his family.
After coming to terms with his diagnosis, Richard found support from a group run by Dementia Oxfordshire.
They provide a space for those living with dementia and their carers to come together, share experiences, and build friendships.
“This group has been a godsend, really,” Karen said. “You can talk to people that are going through similar things. You can talk about medication—what worked well for them, what didn’t work so well. It’s just that kind of connection.”
The group offers a variety of activities, including walking sessions at Blenheim, coffee mornings, board games, arts and crafts, and group boat trips.
Despite the challenges of living with dementia, Richard appreciates the positivity shared among group members.
“It’s sometimes a bit sad because you get to know them and you see them, and you see a reflection of where you’re going to end up,” Richard said. “But you also remember the smiles and the laughs.”
The group helps inspire members to lead active lives despite the challenges dementia poses.
“They are people who have said to themselves, ‘I’ve got it, but I'm still going to go on with my life, my life isn't going to change,’ and that's how I've planned it out. I've said I don't want dementia to define who I am,” he said.
Richard still participates in airsoft competitions and builds Lego models to help maintain his physical and cognitive abilities.
“What it's great for is helping me pick small objects up and helping with my motor skills, but also the nice thing is that I'm thinking and I'm following instructions—it helps my concentration,” he said.
Richard highlighted how important it is to have these groups for younger people with dementia.
“It's good to have the young people represented because I think they give an indication that dementia isn't about giving up—you can live with it for some time. Life doesn't come to an end.”
He added that services for young people with dementia are not available everywhere and the need for them is significant.
“It's limited in other areas, and that's down to funding, which is bad because dementia is one of the main killers in the UK at the moment.”
Both Richard and Karen emphasised that while living with dementia can be difficult, it is important to stay positive and keep a sense of humour.
Karen said, “We seldom cry about anything. We’re always having a laugh. You have to otherwise it would just be a downward spiral. You've got to be upbeat.”