UK-Based Kenyan Urges Families to Stop Dismissing Memory Loss as Normal Ageing

UK-based Kenyan diaspora fundraiser Suzzie Otiende is urging families to stop treating memory loss in older people as an inevitable part of ageing, warning that lack of awareness is costing communities valuable knowledge.

Otiende made the remarks while launching a Facebook fundraising campaign for Dementia UK to mark her birthday on November 7. The fundraiser has already collected over £3,000 towards a £26,000 target, with all proceeds directly funding the charity’s Admiral Nurses programme.

Drawing on her experience as a care worker after relocating to the UK in the 1990s, Otiende expressed concern over how families understand and manage the neurological condition. She noted that failure to recognise early signs often prevents patients from receiving medical care.

“I think we need to do more research on dementia because we are losing a lot of elderly people who have got so much knowledge,” Otiende said.

Her drive to support community causes stems from her upbringing in Kenya, where mutual support and helping neighbours were central to daily life. She noted that charitable giving remains a family tradition, with her younger brother currently running a community foundation in Kenya.

“This is how we were brought up, to just give back,” she said. “It's so fulfilling. I wouldn't pass somebody collecting money without giving them money. I just feel like, when I give, I just feel so fulfilled.”

Otiende chose Dementia UK after close family members and friends were affected by the condition. She plans to use the campaign to track research developments and share guidance on how families can better support affected relatives.

She advised families to engage individuals living with dementia through simple daily actions, such as taking them for walks, reading together and discussing their personal histories.

Dementia UK said that contributions will help expand its network of specialist nurses, providing essential advice and ensuring families do not navigate the diagnosis alone.

The birthday initiative adds to Otiende’s long track record of community service in the UK, which began in 2012 when she started volunteering at Heathrow Airport.

Over the past decade, she has supported campaigns for Marie Curie, Macmillan Cancer Support, the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal, Children in Need, Christmas Jumper Day and the Invictus Games. Through these initiatives, she has raised funds for cancer research, military veterans, vulnerable children and homeless individuals.

Otiende explained that rotating her fundraising targets allows her to learn about underfunded medical conditions through charity updates, expert discussions and direct contact with affected families. She previously used a similar approach while raising funds for pancreatic cancer research.