At Heanton Nursing Home, we believe that every person carries a story worth telling. One that continues well beyond age or diagnosis and Dirk Kennedy’s life is a powerful reminder of that. Now living with a Dementia, Dirk is no longer able to write every word of that story himself. But it’s far from lost. What started as an effort to honour him has grown into something more: the early chapters of an autobiography, still in progress. What follows is just a glimpse. Because Dirk’s story is still unfolding but what you will come to understand, is simple: Dirk Kennedy’s life is anything but ordinary.
Dirk had always intended to write his life story, a project encouraged by his mother, who believed his experiences were worth sharing. A wartime birth in a Glasgow bomb shelter, early years spent living aboard a sailing boat, and a youth filled with clever ideas. His life was full of remarkable detail. As a teenager, he built a boat in his bedroom and launched it into the River Thames. As an adult travelled across England in a caravan pulled by a Clydesdale horse! He went on to explore art, writing, and craft! Sharing his stories through poetry, spoon carving, and exhibitions. His time at sea left a strong impression, and after surviving a dangerous storm and being thrown overboard, he began painting the ocean as he had experienced it firsthand.
Dirk is also remembered for his kindness. Whether it was cooking for others, campaigning for safer roads, or helping neighbours, he always looked out for those around him. His values, shaped by Buddhist teachings and a belief in living simply, remain at the heart of who he is But like many, Dirk’s journey took a turn when he was diagnosed with dementia.
The diagnosis was never something he fully understood, and with time, it became harder for him to finish tasks, remember details, or continue writing his long-dreamed-of autobiography. That’s where Heanton Nursing Home comes in. To help preserve Dirk’s legacy, Rafaella Faccio at Heanton’s communications team is working closely with his family to complete his autobiography. It’s more than a project; it’s a tribute. A chance for Dirk to hold his life story in his hands, not as something lost to dementia, but as something reclaimed.
Living at Heanton, Dirk is surrounded by a team that recognises not just his needs, but his identity. He is still drawing sailing maps, using it to navigate around the home, and watching the boats drift by at Fremington Quay. He kindness still shines around the home, steadying wheelchairs, washing dishes and holds tightly to his independence, choosing his own clothes and decisions that keep him feeling like himself. Because here at Heanton, we believe dementia doesn’t erase a person. It just asks us to see them more clearly and walk beside them with compassion, dignity, and love. it stands as a powerful example of how personalised care can preserve identity, not just in the present, but for the future.
To read the full story please visit Life on the Water: Dirk Kennedys Identity at Heanton Nursing Home - Heanton Nursing Home
