Jean Tottie

Patron and Founding Director

I am now Patron of tide focussing on the ambassadorial role representing tide and making connections at a UK-wide and regional level.

About Jean…

Although I had worked in health & social care for 35 years, mostly in older people’s services, nothing prepared me for my caring role. I found it a huge struggle trying to get the right care for my dad at the right time so that he could stay living alone independently at home, so much so that I didn’t recognise my own needs. I was working at the time and looking back I can now see how my health suffered. I was lucky enough to have the support of Admiral Nurse, without whom I know Dad would have gone into a care home much sooner.
Since Dad died, I have dedicated my time to ensuring that carers are recognised and respected as experts. I have been involved in a number of national policy initiatives and was instrumental in setting up the national Carers Call2Action within the Dementia Action Alliance; its legacy is tide – together in dementia everyday – which started as a project within the Life Story Network before becoming a separate charity in 2019.
I am passionate about supporting family carers to have a voice, to be partners in care and use their experience to help other carers as well as professionals so that services continue to improve. I have been involved in a number of research projects in various aspects of dementia, both as an advisor and a contributor, as well as reviewing publications.

Within my local community I support carers who struggle navigating their way through complex systems of health and social care, ensuring that they understand their rights.