The Dementia Dialogue Two women discuss the disease, it’s impact on their lives, and share insights on ways to minimize the impact of this diagnosis. Through this conversation, they hope to open up the doors to a deeper understanding of their deeply personal dementia journeys.
Kate Swaffer: Diagnosed (and ‘living’) with Younger Onset Dementia
Kay Bransford: Assisting (and worrying about) two parents with unspecified “moderate dementia”
The idea sprang up between us as we were following each others journeys, and both scratching our heads wondering if what we were doing, thinking or saying, or how we were (are) reacting or responding was helpful. We both felt the dialogue had the potential to help us and others greatly if we talked to each other through a series of Questions and Answers on this challenging and often overwhelming AND enlightening road. Please feel free to join the conversation, or pose either of us with a question. Like Kay, I feel proud.
well done and brave of both of you
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Hi Kate and Kay
This is a great idea and I really look forward to your continued insights as I find all your ideas brave, exciting and very informative 🙂
OK, so here’s a question for you… Here in the UK there is talk of “discontinuing” the term ‘dementia’ … to be “replaced by Major/Minor Neurocognitive Disorder. Possibly as early as May 2013” (Dr Karim Saad)
I have had my first venture into Storify, to try to share the beginning of this debate which has been raging today and no doubt will run for a long time to come… storify.com/whoseshoes/d-is-for-distraction …
We would be VERY interested in your views or any of your fab readers… (I think you can comment on the Storify?)
And thanks for your continued support of my blog. Brilliant 🙂
Gill x
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Thanks Gill,
I think brave might be the best adjective… it is going to be a real challenge for Kay and I to be truly honest to each other, for fear of hurting each other, but worth it as how else can we really understand each others journey.
The idea of the word dementia being removed was discussed last week at a meeting of a national Alz Australia committee I am on, but nothing difinitive, and certainly no time lines. I think it is a WONDERFUL idea, and will help to remove the stigma and DISCRIMINATION.
I’ll check out Storify, and no doubt comment if I can.
Love you blog, keep up the good work.
Kate x
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Hi Kate and Kay
Thank you! And yes, I’m sure this will not be easy but people will respect this and you must do what feels right for both of you. I find with my whose Shoes? workshops that it is exactly the process of opening up “difficult conversations” that really helps change attitudes and make progress.
And thanks for your comment on my non-existent blog :)… Haha, I was trying to re-post from Storify to WordPress – the whole thing is a huge learning curve.
It hadn’t worked and you were very quick to visit 🙂 Might try again but not tonight!
Hopefully pasting in the link above will work so you can see it on Storify. It was and is an interesting debate and you will see that I am worried that it will distract as people are just starting to embrace our “Dementia Challenge”
The more views the merrier, so post away :))
Gill x
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Hello, grand idea. Keep them coming. Best wishes. Richard
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You might also want to send a question to Kay? I feel, the more we both get to answer, the more we will all understand each others world.
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