Comments on: Blog 24: The Man in the Mirror (Pt 2)

By: Fay

Fay — Thu, 09 May 2013 10:17:05 +0000

I was getting some help in those days, Rowena. I was given help to keep Bill clean and, once a week a carer took him for a drive. And, as Bill became sicker, I was given more help. But it’s never enough help, of course, and, apart from the basic speech therapy that we did in the early days, there was never any effort made to help Bill recover lost mental powers. Do they care for people with dementia differently in France and Belgium?

I have to say, though, that in Australia, as of yesterday, dementia patients should receive dramatically improved care because the Federal Government, with the assistance of the States (though N.T. and W.A. have not yet signed) are setting up a National Disability Insurance Scheme. It will see a lot more money being spent on those who, being disabled, need it. I’m not sure that it will see greater assistance given to those with dementia, but I hope it will.

By: Fay

Fay — Thu, 09 May 2013 09:41:10 +0000

I remember when Bill first started to become incontinent. And I say: “first started …. ” because Bill didn’t become
incontinent over night. The whole process of becoming incontinent took over a year, I think. But when it first started, it happened that it began with him wetting the bed at night. And Bill was well aware of what was happening then and was absolutely appalled and disgusted with himself.

By: Rowena

Rowena — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:49:13 +0000

Why was there so little help and support for you? I cannot understand how health services in Australia offer so few resources to people in need in their homes. Shouldn’t assistance be at it’s most intense when a sufferer is at home being cared for by a family member? Wouldn’t this be a better way of improving quality of life for the sufferer and the carer? Thank you for such a concrete example of the reality of the daily life of a carer. Rowena

By: Charmaine Zuidam

Charmaine Zuidam — Thu, 02 May 2013 03:38:08 +0000

Probably a good thing he was not aware this was happening to him. A terrible drawn out way for life to end. Love you Fay.

By: Fay

Fay — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:14:59 +0000

Hello Nola and Harold,
Thank you for your ongoing comments which help to keep the blogging purposeful. I suppose Bill’s decline, in a way, was no different to that of someone with macular degeneration, for example, or acute arthritis. You just have to work with the person to help him/her have the best life possible. But it’s harder with dementia because we don’t like to say to the doctor: “He wees in the garage.” And, believe me, the doctor doesn’t want to hear it. There is, I think, still an embarrassment there, when we’re dealing with people with dementia, that stops us from understanding that it is just a decline ….. like any other physical or mental decline ….. and we can work with it.

By: Fay

Fay — Wed, 01 May 2013 22:57:40 +0000

Hello Adele,
Thank you for your encouraging words. Your comment is the reason I’m blogging this story …… that people might understand a little of what is happening to that person who is suffering from dementia. Your words give me reason tp continue with the blogging. Thank you.

By: Harold and Nola

Harold and Nola — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:37:07 +0000

We don’t know how to comment here except to say that with a child in one way this is easier for we don’t expect that child to have any life experience behind him/her. However, with an adult, who has had life experience over and beyond sixty years we expect them to literally ‘know’ these things. How hard it must’ve been to put the full-grown man back into childhood, but at least we know now what to expect. Nola and Harold.

By: Adele

Adele — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:17:06 +0000

Thank you Fay for continuing to share Bill’s and your journey. I personally await each new blog post with anticipation. Through reading this I am learning so much and it is helping my family. I am sure you are helping many other families in the same way.

Thank you again

Adele