'She couldn't say more than a few words': Brave Carey Mulligan discusses her late grandmother's 16-year battle with Alzheimer's disease in emotional interview

Her grandmother lost a 16-year battle with Alzheimer's earlier this year, passing away at the age of 91. 

And Carey Mulligan has opened up about 'Nan's' death, in an emotional interview which she hopes will raise awareness of the debilitating brain disease. 

The British Great Gatsby actress, 32, revealed the painful journey- which started when she was just 16, saw her grandmother unable to utter more than a few words.

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Brave: Carey Mulligan has opened up about 'Nan's' death, in an emotional interview which she hopes will raise awareness of the debilitating brain disease

Brave: Carey Mulligan has opened up about 'Nan's' death, in an emotional interview which she hopes will raise awareness of the debilitating brain disease

Speaking about the condition, which destroys sufferers' memories and cognitive functions, she told The Times: 'The progression of the disease meant that by the time I was in my mid-twenties she wasn't able to communicate much beyond a few words, and largely in Welsh, her mother tongue.'

But despite the painful experience of watching her grandmother deteriorate, she praised the carers for going the extra mile. 

'She spent that time in the most wonderful nursing home with carers who infused her days with as much love, joy and tenderness as humanly possible,' she remembered. 

Remembering: The Great Gatsby actress, 32, revealed the painful journey which started when she was 16, and saw her grandmother unable to utter more than a few words (seen in 2014)

Remembering: The Great Gatsby actress, 32, revealed the painful journey which started when she was 16, and saw her grandmother unable to utter more than a few words (seen in 2014)

'The day she died two of them came in on her day off to sit with my mum at Nan's bedside. They stayed for more than three hours,' she recalled sadly.

Carey is an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society, who in the UK have launched Dementia Friends, an educational programme where members of the public can learn how to help someone suffering from Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.

Urging people to sign up for a session, she added: 'I would encourage you to find a session locally, take a friend and go along. It's an engaging and fascinating experience, and despite believing I knew pretty much all there was to know about living with dementia, I walked away with a totally different perspective.'

'The progression of the disease meant that by the time I was in my mid-twenties she wasn't able to communicate much beyond a few words, and largely in Welsh, her mother tongue,' British-born Carey revealed

'The progression of the disease meant that by the time I was in my mid-twenties she wasn't able to communicate much beyond a few words, and largely in Welsh, her mother tongue,' British-born Carey revealed

The programme ultimately aims to encourage people to stay in touch with a person suffering from dementia and volunteer for organisations helping sufferers.

Explaining that Alzheimer's 'doesn't take away the person you love' Carey said she would still see flashes of her grandmother's old personality - despite the disease. 

'She was still my grandmother and she still appreciated and needed the love and care her family could provide,' the actress added.

British-born actress Carey, whose mum is from Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire, was always very close with her Welsh grandmother.

She spent many happy childhood holidays staying at her grandmother's house before she was diagnosed with dementia in 2002.

The ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society, who shares two children with husband Marcus Mumford from band Mumford and Sons, approached the Alzheimer’s Society in 2014 to offer her growing fame as a way to raise awareness of the issues. 

Doing her bit! The ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society, who is married to Marcus Mumford from band Mumford and Sons, approached the Alzheimer’s Society in 2014 to offer her growing fame as a way to raise awareness of the issues 

Doing her bit! The ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society, who is married to Marcus Mumford from band Mumford and Sons, approached the Alzheimer’s Society in 2014 to offer her growing fame as a way to raise awareness of the issues 

 

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