Dementia Friends Champion Helen Morris offers some thoughts on the experience of dementia
Exploring new opportunities for everyone to become more sensitive to the challenges presented by dementia and what we can all do make life more pleasant.
One of the amazing perks of my role means I get to meet some wonderful people – two such are Bob and Sylvia.
They travel round public events as a ‘dementia partnership’ in action. Sylvia was a high powered solicitor and has been living with Alzheimer’s for many years. Bob is a medical writer and deeply interested in all things around living well with dementia.
Together they are a delight and an inspiration. Sylvia confidently depends on Bob to get her round places and help if she loses a word. Bob puts Sylvia at the centre of every conversation, making sure he talks only after Sylvia has spoken.
Together they illustrate points made with stories about being partners in the condition and getting the very best of life! Sometimes just sitting down with someone at a coffee table to chat at a conference pays enormous dividends.
And, although I went home buzzing from excellent presentations from Fire and Rescue, the Police and the volunteers behind Dementia Friendly Rothwell (Leeds), the biggest impression was made on me by this husband and wife team of 51 years, both in their seventies and both brimming with life and enthusiasm.
I took these thoughts to my last Dementia Friends Session in Horwich and this sparked other shared stories of positive folk who take this dementia challenge and create out of it something truly inspiring. There were descriptions of people becoming artistic or joining choirs when they had never painted or sung in public before.
OK enough! Yes, no-one wants this diagnosis because of the changes it will bring over the longer term but as Trevor Jarvis would say (another vibrant campaigner who made major banks reconsider PIN number compliance) it is all about ‘CAR’: Consideration, Awareness and Respect.
We have so much to learn from people living with dementia and I would love to hear from anyone here in Saddleworth who would like to join me in any sessions or meetings to give their opinions, advice and inspiration.
Plus the usual plea to groups and societies, please consider running a Dementia Friends Session at a future meeting. Just call me or email and I will be there: 07976 702171 or helen@close-communications.com
For details of local Dementia Friends Sessions please visit http://www.close-communications.com/dementia-friends
The DFC team is around the High Street in Uppermill, from 28-30 July visiting shops, cafés and business owners to discuss official recognition as a part of Dementia Friendly Uppermill. Please look out for us as we bring information and ideas to all the premises we can visit.
Please contact us by email DFCGM@alzheimers.org.uk or phone 0161 962 4788 to receive more information or book an appointment with our team.
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