Dementia = Loneliness

I am currently wrestling with a deep sense of loneliness. In my search for wisdom, I have just re-read a Wakley Prize Essay, Dr Ishani Kar-Purkayastha’s moving essay  An epidemic of loneliness and it was a timely reminder of the problems most recalcitrant to our research based and outcome-driven health care providers. Loneliness involves both social and emotional components…

Sadness

Sadness creeps into our souls, most often without warning. We all have losses from the moment we are born, and have to learn to live with the sadness and change that loss and grief bring. Most times we have no choice about the grief and loss we experience, and the only thing we can choose is…

Younger onset dementia and the impact on children

The books and resources for children are almost exclusively based around a grand parent having dementia, rather than a mother or father with YOD, and therefore it is time we talked about it. If anyone can refer me to a book for children of any age who have a parent with dementia, please do let…

Loneliness

Loneliness sits silently Too often tinged with sadness Wafting through one’s heart Waiting for no-one in particular Filling one’s soul with curiosity Wondering why It never quite goes away A movie or a book Beautiful music Amongst a throbbing crowd Or all alone There is no difference When loneliness and sadness Sneaks in Nothing takes it away Not quite…

Dementia and Christmas

December is the time of year we often take stock of our friendships. For most people, the diary is full of social commitments, racing towards Christmas day when families and special friends are together. Christmas time is either something you love and look forward to or dread, and for many people, it is a time of…

Writing about dementia

A blogging friend wrote to me privately on 6 June… “I stay away at times because I just find it very difficult to read about death a lot and all of the terrible down effects of Dementia. When I first started out at your inspiring blog way back when you were in a very different space.…

Riding the storm of grief

Rest in Peace dear Deb Tanner… Yesterday was the third death of another friend with younger onset dementia. We will attend her funeral over the next few days, and mourn her loss, and support her family and friends, and each other as best we can. With three deaths in as many weeks, it seems I am currently experiencing a…

The train wreck of dementia

The story I posted earlier this week DEMENTIA: The Long 24 Hours by Norman McNamara tells of Norms dementia journey with great clarity, and ripped our heart-strings right out of our chest. Reading it was devastating; it was like viewing our own dementia train crashing. Norms courage in sharing it is inspiring, and he and Richard Taylor will help keep me motivated…

Farewell to my father in law

Farewell Dad. We have family and friends attending the funeral for my father in law today, and yesterday my dear husband and I farewelled him privately at the funeral home. My husband and best friend, who is Dad’s eldest son, also has the same name, the 3rdgeneration to have been named Peter Watt, and all…

Sadness

Yesterday I really wanted to blog about my very sick hospitalised friend, but to have done so would have meant there would have been no words at all, just tears. Hence the crazed focus on the NaNoWriMo goal in between hospital visits, phone calls and meetings with his other friends. He had another seizure, and…