Here’s hoping I can do a few of these things in this quote… and thanks to one of my friends and fellow dementia activists, Agnes Houston for alerting me to it! I had meant to publish a blog on New Years Day, simply to wish everyone a great 2018, but my body, mind and soul…
It concerns me that such a fuss is made in the media about people (usually more so when they are celebrities) when they either get a diagnosis, or die from dementia. Surely dying is a natural part of life, and for those left behind, just as devastating when it’s from the violation on the body…
Farewell 2017: the highs & lows As we come to the end of another busy year, I’ve been pondering on how things have changed over the last few years, and especially in 2017. Today is also the last day of my role as the SA 2017 Australian Of The Year, and whilst it should have…
When first diagnosed with dementia, I was devastated, truly fearful and in total shock, as I had no idea young people could get dementia. I cried for many weeks, and jogged for as long, as fast, and as often as possible, until the pain of running took over from the pain of the diagnosis, and…
There has been, for many years, discussions, requests, even what could be seen as begging from may of us diagnosed with dementia to use respectful language. That means, respectful from our point of view, not those who are not diagnosed with dementia. Of course, people with dementia do suffer some of the time, but we…
A lazy Sunday reblog from 2012… partly about my diagnosis, and also on how distasteful the notion of being shut away in an activities room doing something truly mindless (to me) like Bingo is. Some of the comments on this blog are interesting too. It ends by saying: “Please don’t simply shut us away in the…
In 2016, the Australian Government announced it would establish Specialist Dementia Care Units (SDCUs) to support people who experience very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Many of you who read this blog will know, I don’t believe in BPSD, and in fact, feel strongly against this term, and the very negative labels it…
“Be informed, inspired, incentivised, indignant, & incensed” was the heading of NCDAllliance Forum 2017 Update on December 11, 2017. The update began with this powerful quote from Katie Dain, CEO of the NCD Alliance. “We urge you to continue the conversations you started here. Continue communicating with partners – both old and new. Continue listening to and…
About Universal Health Coverage Day I’m still in Sharjah, hence it is still the December 12 here, which each year is Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day. I felt it important and extremely relevant to publish this blog today as UHC is something that has been missing in action for people with dementia and our families…
A few weeks ago I presented at an event as an opening keynote speaker; when my agent asked for a speakers fee, they were advised there was no budget for this. I agreed anyway, as believe it is important to talk about human rights, and to represent DAI. However, disturbingly, during one of the breaks on…
My blog is a bit rambling today, as it talks about death and dying, cognitive capacity and other related topics. Sorry if I should have made it three or four blogs, but I’m here so rarely these days, I took the chance to finish writing it, and this is what I (therefore we) have ended…
Today is Mental health day, started 15 years ago, and whilst not necessarily something to celebrate, it is positive that we are talking about and thinking about mental health as almost everyone has been impacted by mental health issues personally, or someone they know has. As dementia comes under the umbrella of mental health at…
Jonathan Livingstone Seagull is now only in my thoughts rather than hanging in my office, although I do have a photograph of him on my computer desktop and phone wallpaper. This year, more than ever before, I have relied on my seagull Jonathon, or at least the meaning of what he stands for, and I miss his…
My changing ability to work out not only how to cook, but what to cook, what to shop for, and so on, will ultimately result in the reality that sooner or later, we should be ordering in our weekly evening meals. My dear husband Peter, also known affectionately known as my BUB around the world, has,…
When I was 15 years old, I was elected as a school Captain, and that year wrote an essay titled “Girls and women as leaders: from Rhetoric to Reality.” I had probably read the term ‘Rhetoric to Reality’ somewhere in my readings, as back then I read many books each week for pleasure, as well…
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