Former Emmerdale actress Charley Webb has spoken emotionally about her family's difficult journey to secure a dementia diagnosis for her mother, revealing they had to "really push" for answers amid initial dismissals from those around them.
Gut Feeling Ignored
Webb, 37, who portrayed Debbie Dingle on the ITV soap for nearly two decades, appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain to discuss her mother's ongoing battle with early-onset dementia. She recounted the pivotal moment a decade ago when she first suspected something was seriously wrong.
"She actually forgot something quite huge, something between me and her," Webb explained to presenters Susanna Reid and Ed Balls. "I knew in that moment it was something she wouldn't have forgotten. I think everyone around me at the time was like 'you're being dramatic, everything's fine', and I was like 'no, something's not right'. I just knew in my gut."
Organised Mother's Uncharacteristic Change
The actress highlighted how her mother's previously "very organised" nature made the memory lapse particularly alarming. "She was very on the ball with things, and it was just something that she's dropped and I thought 'there's just something not quite right'," Webb added, emphasising the subtle but significant change she observed.
Protracted Diagnostic Process
Webb's mother eventually received her diagnosis at age 64 in 2023, but symptoms had been present for some time prior. The actress noted that obtaining the diagnosis proved challenging and time-consuming.
"It takes time to get the diagnosis and it wasn't easy to get. I feel like it's been a long, long time," Webb stated, explaining that the process is often particularly protracted for younger individuals since dementia is typically associated with old age, leading to symptoms being overlooked or misattributed.
Urgent Advice for Others
Drawing from her family's experience, Webb offered crucial advice to others who might suspect a loved one is showing signs of cognitive decline. "I wouldn't delay getting a diagnosis because the process is quite long, especially for someone who is younger, because they sort of go, 'oh, I think it could be this'," she cautioned.
"We got fobbed off with water infections and all sorts of things which can affect your memory. Really push for it, and do not take no for an answer."
Care Home Decision and Advocacy
Webb also addressed the emotionally difficult decision to place her mother in a care home, describing it as a "relief" to see her in a "much healthier environment." She reflected on the conflict many family carers experience: "I think you spend so much of your childhood having it in your head that 'I'll look after you when things go wrong', or 'I'll be there, you've looked after me all those years'. Something like that is not possible and they do need specific care. As much as you want to be there and have them at your house, it's not safe."
Understanding Early-Onset Dementia
Dementia, as described by the NHS, is a syndrome characterised by an ongoing decline in brain functioning, including memory loss. Charity Dementia UK defines early-onset, or "young onset dementia," as the condition developing before the age of 65, which presents unique diagnostic and care challenges.
Since first disclosing her mother's diagnosis publicly in 2023, Webb has become a prominent advocate for Alzheimer's and dementia awareness. Beyond her acting roles in productions like The Long Shadow (2023) and Ellis (2024), she has actively supported charities including Alzheimer's Research UK, using her platform to raise awareness about the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate care.
