By Jane Staiano @JaneStaiano

"Why you so anti-me? This is my life here!" Powerful words from Tom, a 79 year old father, husband and grandfather who lives with vascular dementia.

This 60 minute BBC 1 film, is hard to watch at times, painting a dark and depressing view of a life with no hope when you have dementia.
Filmed over the period of 2 years by Tom's grandson Dominic, it follows the decision of the whole family to remove Tom from his home of 30 years, be sectioned under the mental health act and placed permanently under hospital supervision.

As their story unfolds, we see them not only struggling to deal with Tom's ever changing mood and temper, but his deep unhappiness. In fact, no one in the family seems happy with their decisions.

Grandson Dominic clearly dotes on Tom, the father he never had. When we see him break down on camera, followed by a desperate phone call to his grandma Pam, who has escaped from it all to Cyprus, we wonder what actual outside support and help they receiving? Why does it appear they are struggling alone?

In making Granddad, Dementia and Me, the filmmaker clearly set out to record a very personal account of what it is to live with someone with a life changing disease. But I think it serves, not only to give an insight into the Sivyer family, but also to highlight the need for every day support, care and understanding, and also financial aid for those living with a disease that is sadly becoming more common.

With people living longer, there are currently 1 in 6 people over the age of 80 living with dementia and 850,000 people with it in the UK. Numbers are set to rise to over 1 million by 2025.

As for the family featured, well they go through a painful learning curve, before a resolution which I think IS happy .
Beautifully shot, if not slightly uncomfortable film.