20 May 2026
Trust nurse Julia Taylor has turned her passion for dementia care into a children’s book – while facing the heart-breaking loss of her own speech due to illness.
Julia, 53, who is based at our Woodside Resource Centre in Middlesbrough, has dedicated her career to championing the care of older people.
Now, as her ability to speak slowly fades, she hopes her book – Nana Mackie’s Magical Memories: A dementia adventure – will become her voice and help keep the conversation going.
“I’ve met a lot of children playing outside care homes during family visits, because they are scared or worried about dementia. It’s such a shame,” said Julia.
“Older people brighten up when children visit, and children benefit too. I hope my book helps people understand the condition better and become less frightened of it.”
Caring is a vocation for Julia
Northumberland-born Julia took on her first job with older people at 17 – working as a care assistant in a local residential home.
On her fourth week in the role she was unexpectedly told it was her turn to cook Sunday lunch and, in “a bit of a panic”, ended up asking one of the residents for help.
“We had a great time, and cooking together became our routine. That moment sparked a passion for caring that has shaped the rest of my life,” she said.
Julia spent seven happy years as a carer until, at 24, she fulfilled her childhood dream of training as a nurse – initially supporting people with eating disorders.
But she soon missed working with older people and, after joining a specialist dementia team, she helped develop a model for understanding challenging behaviour.
“A lot of people on my dad’s side of the family had dementia, so I grew up around it. I think I was about ten when I knew I wanted to be a mental health nurse,” said Julia.
“It’s a vocation. I absolutely love what I do.”
Dedication to helping others
Julia’s career has taken her across the North East and Yorkshire, including five years in forensics in Newcastle and a period as an Admiral Nurse supporting carers.
She then joined our Trust as a member of the older people’s mental health team in Hartlepool in 2016, before moving to Middlesbrough in 2018, where her passion has been delivering dementia training.
Sadly, her journey has not been without challenges. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at just 33, Julia later developed trigeminal neuralgia – a condition so painful she required brain surgery.
“Doctors used Teflon in my skull. I had 24 stitches and was left deaf in my right ear. But I always look for the positives. I’m determined. I plough on through,” she said.
Determined to keep helping
Speaking for long periods is becoming ever more difficult as Julia’s symptoms progress – making it harder for her to deliver the work she loves, like training sessions and mentoring student nurses.
But she remains determined to keep on supporting people with dementia – and hopes that her book will do some of the talking for her.
“Helping people is how I manage my own mental health. If my speech fades, I hope this book keeps those conversations going,” said Julia.
“I love my job, I never want to leave, but I know in my heart that I’ll have done my best to help others if I do have to step down, and part of that has been writing this book.”
Dementia is a “time machine”
Julia drew inspiration from her favourite childhood author Enid Blyton and the life of her very own Nana Mackie to create her adventure story.
She also poured decades of caring experience into the book – blending fantasy with practical guidance to help children understand dementia and support loved ones living with the condition.
“Dementia is like a time machine. It takes you to another point in your life. You have to enter their world, because they can’t enter ours anymore,” said Julia.
“Each chapter in my book tackles a key aspect of dementia, like memory loss, the power of music and changes in language – all wrapped in humour and adventure.”
Julia’s great‑nephews read the book before publication without knowing she had written it. “They loved it,” she said. “That meant everything.”
She is now hoping that their enthusiasm will mirrored by families nationwide and added: “Even when memories fade, the person we love is still there., wrapped in the same heart.
“Every person with dementia is different. You have to learn their life story. If this book helps even one family understand that, then it’s worth it.”
- Nana Mackie’s Magical Memories: A dementia adventure is available as an e-book and paperback from all major online outlets.
