Alzheimers - an insiders view

Brilliant, izabella. Any awareness raising is worthwhile and this article puts it very well.

Thank you Izabella .
Saddened by my DD’s MIL’s decline I often wonder what her “younger” fitter self would have made of it and truly grieve at the gradual eclipsing (is that a word?) of a vibrant and amusing personality.

Thank you for this, Izabella. DH has Parkinson’s related diminishing cognitive function and I needed reminding how hard it is for him. I tend to regard it as one of the trials of my life rather than his, which is quite wrong of me, and your posts do pull me back from thinking it is all about me, when it really isn’t. Of course it is a problem for both of us and it’s important to remember that.

Thank you so much for flagging this up Izabella - and for doing so when others might have sunk into self-pity. Admiration to you from me.

I think the article you linked to is very good at highlighting that no-mans-land between wellness and illness when it comes to dementia.

The social worker dealing with my OH keeps saying he has capacity - and indeed he does in some aspects of his life, for example if you were to ask him whether he is OK about being in his nursing homes he could indeed say "no, get me out of here", or, as thankfully he does, "I like it here."

But anything to do with money, bills etc. he does not have a clue about. The SW went in to him the other day unbeknownst to me, and asked him to sign a form, which he did - he had no idea at all what it was, and began to get anxious about it after she went.

Forms and tick-boxes just do not cut it here.

Thank you Izabella. My BiL has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, although we all suspected it for a while. I will pass your article to my sister.

Thank you Izabella my dh has Alzheimer’s and I am trying to find ways of motivating him.

I gave him a writing book as he loves to write so I’m hoping that he “takes” to that.

It’s so good to see you posting on here and battling through it

My best wishes to you.

Izabella, I read the article this morning and was shocked and saddened at the barriers and brick walls this lady's friend encountered trying to support her.

It took me years to get a diagnosis for my mother, as she was very good at covering up and even fooled her own GP.
It was only when she was admitted to hospital with a broken hip that she was eventually diagnosed.

I do read your inspiring and honest posts on the other threads and have great admiration for you.

Thankyou Izabella and long may your lucidity continue.

Izabella you are an inspiration with your posts, we have had several members of our family with Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia and your posts are always a joy to read.

Anyone supporting someone with any form of dementia will find lots of support from the Alzheimer's Society. Especially the on line forum called Talking Point.

Sorry that I bang on about AS but they are brilliant!

Izabella I saw an encouraging story today: apparently an American company think finally they have found a drug which can slow the decline in Alzheimer's, though still early stages at present

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-50137041

Bravo Izabella, thank you for your thoughtful post and very useful and interesting link.

Wishing you many, many good days. ?

What a tragic story I do know your situation Izabella and admire your positivity, articulate and humorous posts on GN - it's good to know you have the support of your family.

Sadly it's all too easy to see someone's changing behaviour as 'just their age' and often be irritated by some of their idiosyncrasies - it happened with my own parents and I will forever feel guilty that I didn't recognise the deterioration earlier. Early onset dementia is even more devastating both for the sufferer and their families - to have no support at all is dreadful so it's good to be made aware in whatever ways possible.

I agree with kittylester that the Talking Point forum is invaluable with a great deal of knowledge and support available.

Try reading Someone I used to know by Wendy Mitchell.

It follows her own story after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. It is truly inspirational.

Also worth a read.

www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-together-magazine/june-july-2019/book-group-dear-alzheimers-keith-oliver

And kittylester is quite correct. The Alzheimers Society is of great help. We have a support worker who is inspirational. However, I would say to everyone that you have to fight for every darn thing.

Your supportive messages have been a joy to me. Thank you all.

Yes, The Alzheimers Society helped me with my mother.

My very best wishes to you Izabella xx