Louis Theroux...

[ummmm]

On Dementia...

It's heart breaking.

Many of you know that my Nan has dementia. How do people cope? How hurt do you get when someone you've loved so much, all your life, looks at you like a stranger?

[Mamyalynne]

Intensely moving Ummmm.

[murraymints]

you have to just get on with it !!!...after being full time carer to fil with Alzheimers I could write a book...but you have to take each day as it comes..amzing what you can do when you have to !!!

[ummmm]

The lady on at the moment is Nancy.....my Nans name.

[Mamyalynne]

((HUG))

[ummmm]

Murray....I know we get on with it. But how do you feel when they look at you like you're complete stranger?

[murraymints]

ummm..after a bit you get used to it...I know that the i grieved his loss long before he passed away...he just was not there anymore and was in a way a stranger to me also !!!

[ummmm]

I don't think I'll ever get used to it :-(

[tiggerblue10]

Its soul destroying. We went through it with my gran who had Alzheimers for around 6/7 years before passing away 8 years ago. She would look at us as if we were strangers and ask us who we were.

My dad had to give up his business to look after her and in the end she had to go into a home where she could be provided with care as she lost the ability to walk as well.

[NoMercy]

My heart goes out to you. I work with dementia patients and see the stress it places on the loved ones. Xx

[tinkerbell23]

Sad for everyone involved- my gran has it and its caused alot of upset in our family and many an argument too- awful to see it xxx

[DTCwordfan]

I'm glad I didn't see it; I was out at my local, time for myself. As some of you know, it's a mixed here with my mater, vascular and dementia and around stage 4 on average.

[ummmm]

Luckily my Nan is happy....problem is she thinks she's 40 (she's 82)

NoM...sorry :-( xx

[ummmm]

It showed the nice side DT....

Still...my Nan is a wonderful person. It breaks my heart.

[DTCwordfan]

we have stabilised the memory loss, but we see slippage in what they term the sequencing, the ability to do a series of tasks to complete a bigger one, for example cooking.

My eldest sister and I are trying to keep her out of a home for as long as possible, major weight is on me....however, by current prognosis, I see issues on this within the year, maybe 18 months.

There is humour in it from time to time - I am trying to capture some of it for a book and, at the same time, some generic advise on managing dementia from a care perspective....

[sunny-dave]

I've spent the last twelve years providing support and help for people with dementia and their carers/families - you still never get used to it ... either the illness itself or the effect it has on everyone.

Ripples in the dementia pond ....

[DaisyNonna]

When he was in hospital my father thought that he was on holiday with my mother, heartbreaking. He did however complain about the food and service.

[gness]

Look forward to the book DT. I had the added problem of caring for a Mum with whom I had no relationship. Still, I didn`t have the pain of slowly losing a person I loved and who had loved me. That must be so heartbreaking as Ummmm says.
I felt guilty at times for seeing humour in things that happened but I suppose it kept me sane during the years I was caring for her.

[NoMercy]

What sort of dementia does your Nan have and is she on any inhibitors?

[sunny-dave]

You seeing any increase in the prescribing of aricept/donepezil now it's gone generic NoM ?

Are they continuing the inhibitors into the severe phase in your area (recent advice seems to indicate that it's worth it, but not seen much change in prescribing policy round here yet) ?

[NoMercy]

Aricept and Donepezil are widely prescribed, as are many other related meds.