This report is the 2022 Assistive Technology Report released by the WHO and UNICEF. CBM International also contibuted to this report. Some major points highlighted by the WHO include: Almost one billion children and adults with disabilities and older persons in need of assistive technology are denied access. Let’s not forget this figure includes more…
Over the last fourteen years, I have moved from the loss of hope and the desperation caused by the Prescribed Disengagement® given to me by everyone except my neurologist after the diagnosis of a rare younger onset dementia. Disturbingly, I’m acutely aware this prescription of disengaging from our pre diagnosis lives is still being handed…
Life is most certainly an interesting ride and always one where perspective is helpful, which I have gained much more than I bargined for lately! For the last almost 14 years, I’ve increasingly felt like I’ve been at war. In contrast to what’s happening in the Ukraine, clearly I’m not. But I witnessed something today…
Once again, it’s been a while since I was here and although I have much to say, the time is not now to say it. But, I totally forgot to post this link a few weeks ago, so it can be todays blog post! Dr Linda Steele and I were recently interviewed about our research…
In 2022, women are still worse off than men, so for #IWD2022 I am sharing a personal blog, as well as two important events. Scroll below for the details of the two events: 1) deinstitutionalization, and 2) ageing with rights. Apart from the reality that dementia affects more women and girls than men and boys,…
Living with dementia can be challenging at the best of times, but reading or watching videos and other content, about us, is often much worse than living with the disabilities caused by the condition. Last week, I was interviewed for a morning online news programme called Morning Rush by newsy.com in the USA about this,…
Some may think this quote (and my belief in it) is quite perverse, but, as I am a very direct person, I’d prefer to hear a painful truth, than to be lied to about anything. Yes, anything at all, including for example, if my husband was thinking of cheating on me, or one of my…
The Global Disability Summit 2022 is on soon, and includes many side events, and I’m sure people on my side of the world will be interested in this one, especially people with dementia who live with multiple disabilities and are currently most often being denied their rights and access to the CRPD. It really is…
Normal human responses to the C0VID-19 pandemic, without any doubt, contest the construct known as the Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD). Many ‘dementia experts’ also refer to this as challenging behaviours, responsive behaviours, or unmet needs. I do not believe any of these terms are appropriate. BPSD is an umbrella term applied to…
Ok, so it seems I am focusing too much on what is difficult, or painful, or that I really really really dislike! On the weekend, it was the progessive annoying cognitive disabilities due entirely to dementia that caused me to feel bereft and angry. Last night, and today, I’ve decided I hate osteo arthritis… Which…
Yesterday, the sadness and frustration I was feeling was most likely grief, for those things I can not longer do. Sadly, very few acknowledge or understand the grief people with dementia experience. As always grief and life is a roller coaster; with dementia grief sneaks up on us, returning in full swing due to the…
My dear late aunt who I miss every minute of every day taught me not to hate anything, but I have taken that to mean people today, not ‘cognitive capacity’ because… I hate not being able to spell any more (I used to get 99.5-100% in spelling tests) I hate not understanding words, and every…
It remains a high priority of mine, hence I have been campaigning for the deinstitutionalisation and de-segregation of people with any type of dementia of any age, and in fact, anyone of any age living in residential care for many years. This includes ‘memory units’ and ‘dementia villages’. Although two of the following Transforming Communities…
Words have great the potential to hurt, and hurtful words can also leave long lasting scars. As anyone who has followed me here for a few years, you will know I have written and spoken about it many times. I’ve even been plagiarised by a dementia consultant based in the UK, so some of what…
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