Dementia/Alzheimer's

I really don't know much about this crippling, disastrous illness, but my dad did suffer from dementia toward the end of his life, but I was living a few hundred miles from home at the time. I was the apple of my dad's eye. I was his princess and his little lady, but at the end, he didn't know who I was, which was heartbreaking.

I've brought this subject up because of our dear friend Jimbo, whose darling wife Joyce is suffering from this illness and I'm hoping he will be able to share with us his experiences so that, hopefully, we can help him in some small way, if only to listen and give him our support.

Re: Dementia/Alzheimer's

I don't know much about it either, but did watch this earlier http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode..._Love_Dementia (Louis Theroux Extreme Love - Dementia) was very sad

The only thing I'd suggest is researching diet - there have been lots of studies between some foods (such as grains) and how they affect the brain, and in cases such as autism.

Re: Dementia/Alzheimer's

Really? I had no idea about that.

I once knew, online, a nurse who specialised in mental health, most specifically in dementia and Alzheimer's. He made the suggestion to people that, in the unhappy event that this might occur in later life, folk should write down all of their memories, their life stories and things that were very fond to them so that if this happened, their memories wouldn't be lost.

I've already written my life story from my earliest memories when I was three years old, and built it up through the years, and I think this is a good thing to do to pass on to children or grandchildren, so that they'll know about their roots and history.

It would be awful for those people suffering these illnesses to be "lost in time."

I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to lose your memory of who you are and your life before, and especially those you love and who love you. That's too great a concept for me to even visualise.

Re: Dementia/Alzheimer's

Yes, I watched the second episode of Louis Theroux Extreme Love - Dementia. It was a fairly heart-warming program. I believe it was in Arizona which has a high rate of dementa. I was surprised at how jolly, or undepressed most of the demented people were. Another thing that struck me was how bright the environment was, including the dementia homes. It was in vast contrast to a recent documentary by Panorama on the ill-treatment of the elderly in Britain.

Re: Dementia/Alzheimer's

Dear friends I have just spent the last 20 minutes or so typing a reply setting out the history about Joyce`s illness and lo and behold the damm computer froze and I lost my post......I havent time to do it again ,,,,,but will come back after and try to do it again....How irritating,

Re: Dementia/Alzheimer's

I tend to write a long post in Word Jimbo, and then copy and paste into the Reply box, at least you can spend some time arranging your thoughts and re-editing without fear of timing out or any other such nonsense....I look forward to reading your post though, however and whenever it appears..

Re: Dementia/Alzheimer's

Dear friends here I am back again....Held up this morning....cant get Joyce to wake up properly...Will leave her for a while.

DEMENTIA is a word that covers a lot of illnesses that at the end of the day is Memory Loss.

Joyce suffers from Cardeovascular Disease brought on by a Mini Stroke which damages the Memory side of the brain.

This happened whilst she was in the Mental Hospital being treated for Depression.

Joyce had suffered from Depression for about 20 years and it was always under control with medication. She worked until she was well past 70 years old.

She was a Law Librarian with the local Society of Advocates
working at the local Sherrif`s Court.

She had a brilliant brain,excellent at English literature,Novels.authors....Spelling was immaculate

Now she cant read or write !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She was in the Mental Hospital twice......The second time she was released in to my care.

Last time she was discharged she tripped on a Hearth Rug and broke her hip which neccesitated an operation to Pin and Plate the broken hip........The anaesthesia used in the operation caused more damage to her memory.

The authorities instructed me get rid of all mats and rugs.

The Council two years ago fitted a new kitchen and bathroom.....we had to get a wet room instead of a bathroom.....safer for Joyce.......She hates the shower in the wet room.....I plonk her on a stool in the wet room and give her a wash down.

I forgot to say that after the broken hip she had to go to another dump of a Hospital for rehabilitation....using a zimmer,exercise etc.

The nurses through no fault of their own are not trained for Dementia patients in an ordinary hospital.

On one visit she was sitting in bed,her whole top was soaken wet with soup she had tried to eat on her own.....SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUPERVISED WHILST EATING.......I pointed this out to a student nurse who said "IM doing the blood pressures and the temperatures".Got and get someone to change her I said...She did that and 20 minutes later a nurse came and changed her.
Other patients told me that Joyce was left wandering around the ward all night....disturbing them and keeping them awake.
I once visited and saw Joyce sitting on the toilet in full view cos the door was lying open..
She should not have been in an ordinary hospital.
Her son Clifford was very upset at seeing his mother in this situation.He said he wanted her out of there and so did I.

I eventually took her home after a lot of arguement.

Joyce is deteriorating slowly and I have now got to feed her.I have to take her on my arm to walk to toilet,to walk to bedroom....to walk anywhere.
I take her about every three months to see her Consulant at the Hospital who is a very nice lady......But what can she do.

We had a bad sleep problem....Joyce couldnt sleep so therefore I didnt sleep......Consultant finally agreed with me to increase the dose of her Psycotic drug.......Now she sleeps too much during the day.

I am going to shampoo her hair today......20 minutes later she wont remember that I did her hair.
I could go on and on about this.
It can be a living hell but I will never let her go into one of those places where you hear some terrible reports of how they get treated.
If I say so myself.....Joyce would never get the care I give her any place on Gods earth.
Whilst there is breath in my body I will look after her.
Hope I havent bored you with all this.
James.

Re: Dementia/Alzheimer's

No, your posting wasn't boring, James. In fact it was very moving. Obviously, you love your partner, Joyce, very much and you should be much admired and respected for the way you are caring for her. My prayers go out to you and Joyce. God bless you both.

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James I want to put my arms round you and hug youI hope that God is seeing this dreadful thing that has happened to you both.I will think of you both every day,your friend Annie.

Re: Dementia/Alzheimer's

Thanks for sharing your story James, you are a true hero - looking after the person you love so well.

We're always here if you need an ear or a shoulder..