Become a Dementia Friend

vivmagb

When we were told that he had terminal cancer he was offered palliative treatment which he did try but it was too much for him, he said he could cope with the cancer and the treatment but not with the Alzheimer's as well. Watching him lose weight and struggle to string a sentence together is heart breaking. Because of the weight loss I bought him some new clothes a size smaller that his normal and he said what was the point of buying new clothes now.

butterflymum

Such a pity it only seems to be an England wide initiative at present. Hopefully it will eventually be 'rolled out' in other regions too.

teddysmum

Some older people,including myself, are uncomfortable with dementia patients, because they remind us that we could end up like that and it scares us.

vivmagb

It has been said that the best way to deal with something is to face it head on, we try to find humour in the situation. In 2012 he had bowel cancer and because of the radio therapy it left him with little control over his bladder, when he wets himself I just call him !!!!y pants and get him some dry clothes. If you are afraid of getting dementia you should educate yourself about the condition, yes tis a scary thought but the more you know about it maybe the less afraid you will be. I tell my husband that his mind is lost in a maze and it can't find its way out.

Errata

teddysmum wrote: »

Some older people,including myself, are uncomfortable with dementia patients, because they remind us that we could end up like that and it scares us.

With respect - that's a great pity. You have more chance of developing cancer.

Mojisola

teddysmum wrote: »

Some older people,including myself, are uncomfortable with dementia patients, because they remind us that we could end up like that and it scares us.

That is sad. Just think, if you did develop dementia, how much worse it would be if your family, friends and neighbours started avoiding you.

teddysmum

My late father, who had Parkinson's had dementia, but thankfully only near the end and I didn't avoid him.


However,since then, I have had head and back MRIs ,so know I could have potential problems 'up there' and prefer not to be reminded.

sheilavw

I lost my lovely Mum to dementia last October after a long battle. My Mum was always fit and active but for the last year of the illness she couldn't even stand up, feed herself etc. She was very rigid, and they suspected she perhaps had parkinsons as well. For a long time she was wandering, falling, couldn't cook a meal, make a drink and was going to bed with her clothes on. It's extremely sad. Miss her every day