Dementia awareness week

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Power

Power

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Joined
Oct 27, 2002
Dementia awareness week for the majority of the country starting today.

Anyone know of someone affected by Dementia or Alzheimers? It's only recently I realised first-hand there is more to just loss of memory and confusion with either, symptoms also include problems with speech and understanding.

The death of brain cells is the underlying cause of most types of dementia. People are living longer so it's only natural the number of cases are increasing.

I've decided to cycle 85 miles in June through the trossachs to raise funds to promote more about dementia and assist with providing more care and support to sufferers and their families.
 
Power said:
Dementia awareness week for the majority of the country starting today.

Anyone know of someone affected by Dementia or Alzheimers? It's only recently I realised first-hand there is more to just loss of memory and confusion with either, symptoms also include problems with speech and understanding.

The death of brain cells is the underlying cause of most types of dementia. People are living longer so it's only natural the number of cases are increasing.

I've decided to cycle 85 miles in June through the trossachs to raise funds to promote more about dementia and assist with providing more care and support to sufferers and their families.
Click to expand...

Superb Power :thumbgrin

My Grandad who passed away around 6 years ago now was affected by Dementia. His main symptoms as you've listed were problems with speech and his loss of memory. When I say loss of memory however it was more his short term memory. Things from years ago he could remember really well and I loved hearing some of his stories from years gone by. In regards to his short term memory he would ask me what i've been upto, how my auld man was keeping and so forth then 5 minutes later he would ask the same thing. It was just something my mum, dad and the rest of us had to deal with. Also in some way he liked to be treated like a kid, in the sense of he'd love creams buns and sweeties. Before he suffered from dementia he didn't like sweet stuff at all.

He still liked a wee whisky aswell and occasionally found out were the bottle was when hidden away from him:giggle: (liked to have a wander)

Seeing relatives or anyone you know suffer from dementia is always an emotional rollercoaster. Anybody in this situation would have my sympathy as is it's not easy at the best of times. However, that never stopped me having some great times with my grandad as some of the things he would say, you couldn't help but laugh.

Anyway, back to your cycle mate, if you have a sponsor page or something set up I would love to sponsor you if possible :thumbgrin
 
Goals&Glory said:
Superb Power :thumbgrin

My Grandad who passed away around 6 years ago now was affected by Dementia. His main symptoms as you've listed were problems with speech and his loss of memory. When I say loss of memory however it was more his short term memory. Things from years ago he could remember really well and I loved hearing some of his stories from years gone by. In regards to his short term memory he would ask me what i've been upto, how my auld man was keeping and so forth then 5 minutes later he would ask the same thing. It was just something my mum, dad and the rest of us had to deal with. Also in some way he liked to be treated like a kid, in the sense of he'd love creams buns and sweeties. Before he suffered from dementia he didn't like sweet stuff at all.

He still liked a wee whisky aswell and occasionally found out were the bottle was when hidden away from him:giggle: (liked to have a wander)

Seeing relatives or anyone you know suffer from dementia is always an emotional rollercoaster. Anybody in this situation would have my sympathy as is it's not easy at the best of times. However, that never stopped me having some great times with my grandad as some of the things he would say, you couldn't help but laugh.

Anyway, back to your cycle mate, if you have a sponsor page or something set up I would love to sponsor you if possible :thumbgrin
Click to expand...

Thanks G&G,

An emotional rollercoaster is indeed how I would describe it. Confusing the present with past was always a hard thing to accept and slightly emotionally draining on those close.

Agree on the laugh part. My gran was convinced she was married to the foreign man above her in the stairs though they never met, that amongst other hings. :lol:


I've set-up a justgiving website for taking small online donations. Might do a Hearts influenced bake sale for the Bounce buses at the weekend. :lol:

http://www.justgiving.com/kieranpower2013
 
Power said:
Thanks G&G,

An emotional rollercoaster is indeed how I would describe it. Confusing the present with past was always a hard thing to accept and slightly emotionally draining on those close.

Agree on the laugh part. My gran was convinced she was married to the foreign man above her in the stairs though they never met, that amongst other hings. :lol:


I've set-up a justgiving website for taking small online donations. Might do a Hearts influenced bake sale for the Bounce buses at the weekend. :lol:

http://www.justgiving.com/kieranpower2013
Click to expand...

Yeah totally agree. After my Nana passed away suddenly, it took months for my Grandad to realize she was actually gone. Constantly calling on her and asking my mum & her sister were she was. One day it eventually clicked and he broke down it tears, which was hard for all of us.

But as you say great laughs. It's instances like you say about your gran and the foreign man you'll remember man :lol:

That's great. Hopefully pass some money your way over the next few days. :thumbgrin
 
Power said:
Dementia awareness week for the majority of the country starting today.

Anyone know of someone affected by Dementia or Alzheimers? It's only recently I realised first-hand there is more to just loss of memory and confusion with either, symptoms also include problems with speech and understanding.

The death of brain cells is the underlying cause of most types of dementia. People are living longer so it's only natural the number of cases are increasing.

I've decided to cycle 85 miles in June through the trossachs to raise funds to promote more about dementia and assist with providing more care and support to sufferers and their families.
Click to expand...

I worked for 2 1/2 years in a care home where the majority of those living there had some level of dementia and where a specific 'locked' unit was home for up to 15 people at a time with more advanced and complex forms of dementia. I spent most of my time in this unit and it totally opened my eyes to the great challenge dementia presents society with our aging population. This challenge is exacerbated by the fact that as the number of people with dementia increases we are also having an increase in the numbers of older people who have no obvious or willing relatives to provide the love and care and vital information that professional carers need to make the effects of dementia less traumatic and brutal.

I had some wonderful moments of comedy and compassion with the residents, their families and the other carers and I would say that even amongst those who had reached a point where they couldn't string a sentence together they still managed to show me in their own way how much they appreciated the help they were getting. It was a job of extremes and I have to say it is one of those jobs that nobody should do for that long due to the mental and physical demands. That is why those who choose to care for a relative at home need massive kudos and support. Sadly, cutbacks and the like mean the support for personal and professional carers ain't there.

All the best with your cycle and my best wishes to you and anyone else out there who has /is caring for a loved one with dementia.
 
Power said:
Dementia awareness week for the majority of the country starting today.

Anyone know of someone affected by Dementia or Alzheimers? It's only recently I realised first-hand there is more to just loss of memory and confusion with either, symptoms also include problems with speech and understanding.

The death of brain cells is the underlying cause of most types of dementia. People are living longer so it's only natural the number of cases are increasing.

I've decided to cycle 85 miles in June through the trossachs to raise funds to promote more about dementia and assist with providing more care and support to sufferers and their families.
Click to expand...



Thats quality. :thumbgrin

Dementia is one of the charities I give to each month :thumbgrin

I wil definately chip in mate :thumbgrin
 
Power said:
Dementia awareness week for the majority of the country starting today.

Anyone know of someone affected by Dementia or Alzheimers? It's only recently I realised first-hand there is more to just loss of memory and confusion with either, symptoms also include problems with speech and understanding.

The death of brain cells is the underlying cause of most types of dementia. People are living longer so it's only natural the number of cases are increasing.

I've decided to cycle 85 miles in June through the trossachs to raise funds to promote more about dementia and assist with providing more care and support to sufferers and their families.
Click to expand...

Kieran,

A subject very close to our hearts. My mother in law has recently gone into full time care after my wife tried bravely to give her all the care she required in her own home. Alzheimers is a cruel illness and it's sometimes very hard to see beyond it to the person you know is still in there, sometimes blissfully unaware and sometimes anxious and frightened. I'll pledge a donation as soon as pay day comes - I hope all that sprinting up and down the steps of the East Stand has worked . . . but you should try it without a pie in each hand!

Good on ye son!
 
small donation made, good luck with it..

spied you at tynie havin a good work out sprintin about the mosh pit after caldwells winner so should be nae bother..

the girlfriends ma had alzheimers, takes its toll.
 
A ken ye both and it's evident the numbers are high that get touched by the illness in one way or another at some point in time.

Thanks, I'll no let ye's doon. 5 hours 14 minutes is what I need to beat for a personal best on that distance.
 
Power said:
Thanks G&G,

An emotional rollercoaster is indeed how I would describe it. Confusing the present with past was always a hard thing to accept and slightly emotionally draining on those close.

Agree on the laugh part. My gran was convinced she was married to the foreign man above her in the stairs though they never met, that amongst other hings. :lol:


I've set-up a justgiving website for taking small online donations. Might do a Hearts influenced bake sale for the Bounce buses at the weekend. :lol:

http://www.justgiving.com/kieranpower2013
Click to expand...

That's a wee donation been sent your way mate. Best of luck :applause:

Kev.
 
It was finally Scotland's Alzheimer and Dementia awareness week last week and it ended with a fantastic sea of quilts made as memorials highlighting and stimulating memories of the past at Hampden Park.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-22827414

My 85 mile cycle was on Friday 7th in the scorching heat of Callander, taking in Loch Katrine, the Trossachs, Aberfoyle, Kippen, Cambusbarron, Thornhill enroute before returning to Callander. I completed the course in a personal best of 4 hours 59 minutes and 52 seconds. Beating my previous time by 15minutes and an extra 5 miles covered this year.

Thank you to everyone that sponsored me from this site. Can't thank you enough.

DarrenSQH fae here was also doing the charity cycle for this worthy cause. Good seeing you lad.

I'll see if I can locate any pictures from the day over the next week.

Cheers
KP

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