Following on from my last blog, I thought I’d share more on how dementia has changed my life, in particular how it has mostly been for the better. For instance, the image here of Snowy (TinTins dog) is a gift that was selected by Francis Wong, a wonderful colleague and now someone I am very…
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…
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 my own experience It’s ultimately kinder to be up front Face up to stuff Be honest and true to you Laugh as much as possible Dance, even when no-one’s watching Believe in love It will always overcome hate Forgive others In the knowledge That those who intentionally harm you Speak of themselves Not you…
Not so long ago, I met a wonderful woman online called Minna Packer after she joined Dementia Alliance International. She definitely seemed to be struggling with having been diagnosed with dementia, and I remember that very dark place only too well. Minna inspires me, and I’m now pleased to say, has, perhaps without realising it, encouraged me to…
On Wednesday afternoon this week, my husband and I attended the State Parliamentary session of the Legislative Council in Parliament House, Adelaide. The Hon Kelly Vincent MLC, the fearless and remarkable young woman who is the Leader of the Dignity Party in SA, made a motion recognising me for winning the SA 2017 Australian Of…
This week I was asked to provide some information about one of DAI’s founding members, the late Richard Taylor Ph.D. I headed to my files (word and emails) simply titled: Richard Taylor. It was an opportunity to reflect when not feeling hopeless, as it’s often Richard who I turn to when I want to give up…
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…
In the last few days, someone asked me for this list/graphic of a power point slide I have of it, but I cannot find my notes, nor remember who, hence I am reposting it here today. Please feel free to download it and share it, but also reference it to me. Thanks. And I hope…
This is a Seminar you can attend in person (limited spaces), or attend as a Webinar online, the first Dementia Alliance International event, being co-hosted with the Dementia Advocacy Awareness Team in Brisbane, and supported by BlueCare: Live life your way. Register here… You can also download the flyer below.
Firstly, happy 50th to one of my new friends Sarah Yeates. We met as I was invited to speak to her organisation, then she offered to become a volunteer for DAI, and now, I would consider we are friends. I was disappointed not to be able to travel to Victoria on the weekend just gone…
It was a day of interesting opportunities and challenges having a film crew in my house (sometime earlier this or last year – I can’t remember as I started writing this blog the day after). The denial bubble we prefer to live in disappeared that day, as we had to focus on what it is…
Kay Bransford, a long time virtual friend of mine wrote on her blog Dealing with dementia, in a post titled “Letting us in”; “I learned that once my mom was having cognitive issues, I couldn’t expect her to change. I had to change. We (my siblings and I) made life choices for her when she no…
Too often I watch an interview of a care partner about life supporting someone with dementia, and they speak with incredible love, but often in paternalistic and patronising ways. In this way they subconsciously continue the myth that people with dementia are the ‘real sufferers’. What they are really expressing, in my mind, is their…
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