When a person with dementia ‘comes out’ about their diagnosis, and openly admits they are living with the symptoms of, and diagnosis of dementia, there are a number of reactions and responses. The person with dementia (PWD) is thrown into complete turmoil; anger, ‘why me?’, surely it can’t be true, let’s get a second opinion,…
Social inequality is characterised by the existence of unequal opportunities or rewards for different social positions or statuses within a group or society. There are two main ways to measure social inequality: inequality of conditions, and inequality of opportunities. Inequality of conditions refers to the unequal distribution of income, wealth and material goods. For example,…
As I wander around the shops or streets, or sit in restaurants or cafes, many people are more connected to their iPhones or iPads, tweeting, or checking emails or Facebook or other social media connections, often forgetting to talk to each other. Worrying or excited about how many followers they have, rather than how many face-to-face…
This is more true for the husbands, wives, parents, daughters, sons or friends who care for a loved one living with a diagnosis of dementia, because as the disease progresses, it could be we become a whole lot less lovable. Most of the blogs I read written by adult children caring for a parent with…
Talking eventually becomes an embarrassment or humiliation for a person with dementia. I am finding this now; if I’ve committed to an event or forum, as I get tired, my words start getting jumbled, or the word finding gets worse. The more formal part is easier, as I always refer to notes, but the question time or other…
After reading Kay Bransfords blog I don’t understand why you are so upset today, I responded with my own feelings about dementia, and whether a PWD can cause others to feel duress. In reality, no-one cannot cause another person to respond or react a certain way. You cannot cause a healthy person to respond or react a certain way.…
In case you don’t realise Dementia is an awful disease, and can’t understand why people in the early stages of dementia and their loves ones fear what is ahead, watch this video. It is worthy of a being my second blog today. It also shows the absolute depth of human love and committment by those people who love and…
Continuing on from yesterdays blog, which was from my presentation yesterday, it has been my experience that often others feel threatened when people express their need or desire for change, especially if it is to service providers or policy makers. In this case, I am talking about PWD. There is no need to feel threatened, as it is merely an…
Today I presented at a forum, Younger Onset Dementia: A time for change, and my presentation was titled ‘The unique challenges of younger onset dementia’. Sometimes when I suggest things might need to change, there can be a backlash, but with the title of the forum being what it was, I decided I would be among friends and…
On World Alzheimer’s Day, I watched the SA 7.30 program, and a young girl and her family were interviewed about her experience of having been born with cleft palate, Mouth surgery helps girl sing. It is a remarkable story highlighting what can be achieved for the health of people living in Australia, of a family’s…
Yesterday I found this fabulous picture from saatchi.uk, and then added the words with a little help from two of the boys in my family (!), as find it perfectly matched with the union of the image and words. Living with dementia means it is sometimes quite hard to look in the mirror, as what…
There are many positive things happening globally about dementia. Research is making small headway, governments are at least starting to listen, the carers of people living with dementia have had a strong voice for some time, and now, very occasionally people with dementia are speaking out. Richard Taylor and Christine Bryden are two people I…
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