Soap Star Charley Webb Reveals Mother's Dementia Struggle
Emmerdale actress Charley Webb has spoken with heartbreaking honesty about her mother Helen's decade-long battle with early-onset dementia, describing the experience as "eight years of hell" for her family.
From Diagnosis to Difficult Decisions
The beloved soap star, best known for playing Debbie Dingle in the long-running ITV series, first noticed concerning symptoms when her mother began forgetting important matters. "Mum took over things like my sister's make-up academy and my career management," Webb explained. "When she forgot something huge for me financially, I knew something was seriously wrong."
Webb revealed that getting a proper diagnosis proved challenging, with medical professionals initially exploring other possibilities before confirming dementia. "They checked her thyroid, did various tests because I don't think they expected it to be dementia at her age," she shared.
The Emotional Toll of Caregiving
The actress described watching her mother's decline as particularly devastating given Helen's vibrant personality. "She was much wilder than me, staying up until 4am with my friends," Webb recalled. "Seeing that decline was awful. She was in denial too - at 64, she never wanted to visit doctors for anything."
Webb confessed to finding visits emotionally draining, contrasting her experience with her sister's more positive outlook. "My sister finds it uplifting when she sees her, but I really struggle," she admitted. "It's hard because it's not the person you love anymore. I know that sounds controversial, but I have to be honest."
Breaking the Silence for Advocacy
The actress explained her decision to speak publicly about her family's experience after years of silence. "I felt selfish not talking about it because I knew how alone I'd felt," Webb revealed. "When that diagnosis happened, I don't think I've ever felt so alone."
She acknowledged her mother's initial resistance to disclosure, imagining Helen saying: "Don't you tell people that I've got that!" Yet Webb felt compelled to use her platform to support dementia charities and raise awareness.
Understanding Early-Onset Dementia
Early-onset dementia affects people between 35 and 65 years old, causing progressive decline in cognitive functions including memory, reasoning and communication. According to Dementia UK, the condition also impacts personality, behaviour and mood.
Webb emphasised the importance of addressing dementia proactively, noting: "One out of two of us will get dementia or care for someone with dementia. If we can do something about it now, we should."
The actress concluded with raw honesty about her ongoing emotional journey: "To be honest, I still don't think I've processed it. They say that you grieve when they're here and you grieve when they're gone."
