A CAFE WITH HEART

Angi McCluskey has changed the lives of hundreds of WA couples living with dementia

- Maisy Rae

Everything can be solved with a good cuppa and a chat. This has been Angi McCluskey's guiding comfort ever since her husband Michael was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's seven years ago, aged 65.

The couple, now both 72, were rocked by the diagnosis and struggled when long-time friends didn't know how to respond to Michael's changing condition.

"It's deeply traumatic, you don't know what to do and after a diagnosis, you're virtually on your own," Angi tells Woman's Day. "You're told there's a booklet you can read and workshops you can attend but I couldn't go to anything because I couldn't leave Michael on his own.