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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 07 August 2010 18:06
Posts: 260,
Visits: 356
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| My dad is well into the that awful of deceases Alzeimers. Hes nearly 80, had for about three years, its sheer hell for him, and torture for us who care. Physically hes fit and strong, but the mind of man for whom youve loved and looked up throughout the years is practically dead. For all the people who help people like my dad I am truely greatful.
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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 30 September 2008 11:38
Posts: 1,
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| My grandmother also suffered from alzheimers for the last 5 years of her life and it was heartbreaking for my family to watch. My mother really struggled with her conscience as she couldn't look after her at home and had to put her in a home but felt terribly guilty about it despite visiting her most days. I think the cost of housing someone in a decent home is disgraceful and there should be more financial support to allow people to give their relatives a decent standard of living when they are no longer able to support themselves.
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Junior Member
Group: Administrators
Last Login: 04 August 2009 12:24
Posts: 16,
Visits: 70
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| Thank you both so much for your contributions to this forum. Stories like this are exactly why I have become involved in the Dignity in Care movement. It is through the collation of stories such as this that I hope to highlight the plight of the elderly in todays society and also in some way to try and influence a change in attitude towards them. It is all about respect and how we as a society view and treat the aged. It would therefore be helpful to hear from anyone else in a similar situation or from anyone finding it difficult dealing with the problems of old age. Also please do tell me how you think the Government could best help in easing their plight.
- Michael Parkinson
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 15 June 2009 22:03
Posts: 17,
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In December 2007, my closest friend, hitherto a fit, healthy lean and VERY young at heart 72 year old, had a stroke; she lost her speech and understanding but had no physical effects. She was taken into the stroke ward at St James' Hospital, Leeds and was, admittedly, a difficult patient - from being a free spirit she was suddenly a caged bird and, clearly, hated being in there. After 2 weeks, her daughters were told that she would never improve and that the hospital recommended a home with facilities for Dementia care.
Her daughters had no previous experience of stroke, took the hospital's words as fact and began to look for a care home. Meanwhile I, 18 years younger than my friend, fought vehemently against this, telling her daughters that 2 weeks was no time to make such a gloomy prognosis and that her chances were good, but that a dementia environment would condemn her for ever. I said that I would take her home with me - thankfully, I shocked them and her daughters listened; one daughter took her home to London with her and organised speech and occupational therapy.
Now, 10 months later, my dear friend is back in her own home, fully recovered and full of the joys of life. But I do wonder what would have happened if her daughters had taken the hospital's advice - although I think that I know the answer. Clearly, all the ward wanted was to move her on.......................
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"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out and proclaiming, 'WOW, WHAT A RIDE!!!'"
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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 20 November 2008 11:13
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| I am adding this to the forum because I hold it as my favorite memory. Background - my father, mother, aunt and uncle come from the same working class background Except my mother, her sister and my father had encouragement (pressure) to get a classic education. My mother became a teacher, my father a doctor. Meanwhile my aunt married a lovely caring man who had been a teenager navy man who was scared by war. Family dynamics meant that my father (with Uni education and charisma) always intimidated by accountant uncle. About year 3 of Altzheimers - uncle under care but still could be taken out - we celebrated my sister's birthday. My Dad started getting pompous and started reciting "Friends, Romans, Countrymen". My Uncle, very much in the background, corrected him. Dad started on St Crispan's day speech....again Uncle took over and recited the whole speech. Best part (from a man who was always intimidated) was at the end of the recitation he said "and I'm the one with dementia"...
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 07 August 2010 18:06
Posts: 260,
Visits: 356
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| Interesting programme on TV tonight about this awful illness. Mum, Dad, Alzeimer s and me, is on Channel 4 at 8pm. Its the story of that beautiful, brave woman Fiona Phillips, who tells the tale of her mothers and dads struggle with the desease. Fiona has turned her back on her career for the love of her dad. An astonishing woman. People who find themselves in the same position as her wont be entertained by this programme, but may find some crumbs of comfort.
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 07 August 2010 18:06
Posts: 260,
Visits: 356
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| Interesting and moving account from GMTV Fiona Phillips regarding her fathers present condition. The poor lass has already lost her mum to this illness, and now has to face torture a second time around. Awful to see a relative described as only a dead person living. I beleive some new expensive drug is on its way to assist alzeimers sufferers, sadly it will come to late for some. One stand out fact came across to me. You get physically ill, and the health service pays for the care. You suffer mental illness and the individual or the family foots the bill. Is there really a difference between the two.
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 07 August 2010 18:06
Posts: 260,
Visits: 356
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| A word of praise must go to ITN News, who this week have highlighted this terrible desease on their teatime bulletins. They may have filled those spots with some celebrity items, but on Tuesday they did a feature on their very own former newsreader JOHN SUCHET whose 67 year old wife has Alzeimers. The poor bloke was reduced to tears describing how his beloved wife who he merely wanted to grow old with, is reduced to a living wreck. The following day ITN again featured the plight of former Blackburn footballer IAN WILKINSON who at aged just 54 has also practically given up the will to live because of what John Suchet calls the terrible A Word. True respect is deserved by Mr Suchet, Mrs Wilkinson, and all other genuine carers.
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 07 August 2010 18:06
Posts: 260,
Visits: 356
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| Latest to add his name to the campaign for the care of Dementia sufferers, is Kevin Whately of Morse, and Lewis fame. Bravo to ITV again, for this airing of Kevins half hour documentary screened on Monday 23rd March. Kevins mum is into the well advanced stages of the desease, but he took the State of Care minister PHIL HOPE MP to task on why dementia sufferers unlike Cancer and Heart patients had to be means tested, which subsequently led them to pay for their own care. Mr Hope like any practising MP fended the question off saying the government would look into it in the near future. Cue Mike, come on get into the MPs ribs. Finally Kevin learned that such things like music, talking of good times, no conflict and no testing questions to the dementia sufferers, would be advice to all who come into contact in caring for these poor people.
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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 06 July 2009 05:50
Posts: 4,
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| Some years ago Ch4 during Alzthiemers Awareness Year showed a poignant film called 'Black Daisies for the Bride'. Filmed at High Royds Hospital in Menston near Leeds, the black daisies being the pattern of the tiled entrance hall to the hospital. It portrayed 3 actual patients, who in their former days had been a seamstress, an opera singer and even a nursing sister at that very hospital. Actresses played the patients as young brides with poetry describing their aspirations, life and eventual demise. To see this and not shed a tear would be a sin. I do wish it could be shown again, along with 'Lost for words' beautifully played by Dame Thora Hird, the story of the author Deric Longdons mothers slide into dementia. I had the privilege of meeting Dame Thora on several occasions and she introduced me to Derik and Pete Postlethwaite who plays him in the film.
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