October 28th, 2016 6:17 PM
October 30th, 2016 2:16 PM
Hi Trish, My name is Roger. I am currently living with dementia. I would imagine you both are going through many thoughts trying to sort things out in your life. No doubt this is a shock in your life and are worried on what direction you will both go. I found with the passage of time and I had time to think this through, I got back to living life the best way I can. I found great support from ASANT and from health care professionals towards living well with the disease. I found with proper medication, excersise,diet made a huge difference on how it has improved my quality of life. For me, its all about the here and now. I live my life as I always have, perhaps even more now doing things on my bucket list and getting the most I can out of life. We have all these great resorces to help with living with this disease, my advise is reach out and take advantage of what is available to you. I have found being open with my diagnoses helps me in general. If I ask what a persons name is or a reminder to an event, people get it and have no hesitation to refresh my memory. Which in return makes my life better. My advise is live for the here and now and do what you both enjoy doing as you have always done. Life doesn't end with an diagnosis, lots of living to be done going forward. :) ASANT has great support groups in your area that I would recommend checking into. ASANT can give you and your husband great advise and direction with support towards this. I wish you both all the very best going forward. Best regards, Roger Marple
November 18th, 2016 9:32 AM
Roger Marple, You are one cool cat! I really enjoy your 'spot on' insights on this web-site!
Your new friend,
Dean in Central Alberta
PS : Please keep up your contributions. They mean so much to others.
November 19th, 2016 8:20 AM
Dean, You are one cool cat yourself. I respect all you have done towards helping people with dementia and their caregivers. We need more people like you out there Best regards, Roger Marple :)
December 19th, 2016 12:50 PM
One important issue to be dealt with at this time of the disease is to make sure that the Wills, Power of Attorney and Personal Directives are in place not only for the Loved One but also for the Caregiver.
Dean in Central Alberta
January 11th, 2017 4:29 PM
My husband was recently diagnosed with dementia and has started on medication to slow the loss of short term memory. He is not yet ready to accept the diagnosis, fearing that it may change how others relate to him. I think they have already guessed what's happening, and I see his friends accepting him as always; however I respect his need for privacy. Sometimes I find it hard to keep my life in balance as I assume more and ever more responsibilities for our home, finances, etc. etc. I'm glad that I took the step to reach out to the Alzheimer's Society for support. I highly recommend an essay that was published in the Oct-Nov issue of AARP written by Louise Penny titled "The Last Promise". You can find it on-line. Very insightful and an inspiration.
February 10th, 2017 2:42 PM
Just wanted to give a link for Elizabeth's recommedation to read "The Last Promise" by Louise Penny if anyone wants to read it: http://www.aarp.org/home-family/caregiving/info-2016/mystery-writer-louise-penny-personal-essay.html