The Biggest Loser’s Fiona Falkiner shares her heartbreak over her mother’s struggle with dementia: ‘Grieving every single day’

The Biggest Loser’s Fiona Falkiner shares her heartbreak over her mother’s struggle with dementia: ‘Grieving every single day’

By Matt Demarco For Daily Mail Australia

Updated: 06:56 BST, 24 August 2023

Fiona Falkiner has shared her heartbreak over her mother’s struggles with dementia.

The Biggest Loser star, 40, said the disease has taken its toll on her and her family and she is ‘grieving every single day.’

Fiona revealed her mother Jill had become more forgetful and confused, forgetting where she was driving and thinking there were people in her house.

While the dementia diagnosis had been gut-wrenching, the television host said it gave a sense of relief because it explained her mother’s erratic behaviour.

Fiona told Mammamia her dad could now tell people in their small Victorian town why Jill wasn’t saying hello or acknowledging anyone.

Fiona Falkiner (pictured right) has opened up about her mother Jill’s (pictured left) struggles with dementia, saying that she is ‘grieving every single day’

‘She couldn’t help it. She couldn’t put places and names together,’ Fiona said.

The model also detailed how heartbreaking the effects of travel bans and lockdowns were during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Because Fiona lives in Sydney, she was unable to see her mother in Victoria at this time. 

The model also detailed how heartbreaking the effects of travel bans and lockdowns were during the Covid-19 pandemic. Because Fiona lives in Sydney, she was unable to see her mother in Victoria at this time

‘During that time, she really, really deteriorated. From the last time I saw her [before lockdown] to the next time I saw her, it was like Mum was gone. It was really hard to take,’ Fiona said.

Jill now resides in a residential care home and her ability to communicate has diminished, and Fiona says she finds herself living in a state of extended farewell. 

‘I’m mourning the mum that I’ve lost but she’s still here.’

Jill now resides in a residential care home and her ability to communicate has diminished, and Fiona says she finds herself living in a state of extended farewell. ‘I’m mourning the mum that I’ve lost but she’s still here’

‘I actually have to try not to think about her every day because I get so emotional. It’s so hard to process that loss every day. I’m grieving every single day,’ Falkiner says. 

Fiona shot to fame in 2006 as a contestant on The Biggest Loser Australia, which she later went on to host in 2015 and 2017.

In 2019, she became engaged to her current wife Hayley.

They welcomed their son Hunter in 2021, and Spencer in August last year.

Fiona shot to fame in 2006 as a contestant on The Biggest Loser Australia, which she later went on to host in 2015 and 2017. In 2019, she became engaged to her current wife Hayley and the couple have two boys together, Hunter and Spencer

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