Don’t panic – there are so many things you or your supporter can do to help make life easier
Expect to have challenges. Always have a plan B for when for things go wrong
Making plans now will mean your loved ones won’t have to make those hard emotional decisions needed later down the line
Encourage others to support you to find new ways of doing things rather than do them for you and find a local DEEP Peer support group.
Never be embarrassed in telling people you have dementia. It’s a complex brain disease so what reason have we to be embarrassed?
Take part in research of any kind – social, technological and clinical – as without willing volunteers, researchers won’t be able to test their new theories on how to care, prevent or cure ………It also makes you feel valued and good about yourself….
Inform family and friends of the importance of not excluding you and of situations you find difficult. They could help you to find new ways.
Adapt to new ways of living. A diagnosis of dementia is all about adapting. If you can accept this, it makes it easier to accept when you can no longer do something as you did it before – you simply find a new way to do it……
Tomorrow it will be my ramblings for those supporting someone with dementia – remember these are just my own personal thoughts…….
Which me am I today? 
I shall keep this and may be able to use it with some of the people I befriend through the Alzheimer’s Society. It’s also useful on a personal basis, as both my parents had dementia and it’s an ongoing worry that I may develop it. Thank you for writing it. Best wishes. x
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Reblogged this on danonwheels and commented:
Wise words…
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Thank you Wendy for these ideas. As someone else who lives in Yorkshire, works full time in the NHS and has recently been diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s I find I am constantly worrying about the future. I’ve already had to stop driving and wonder what will happen when someone (because it won’t be me) decides it’s time for me to stop working as well.
Scary. Anyhow, thanks again.
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Hello Dan, lovely to hear from you:) Whereabouts in Yorkshire are you? Feel free to email me instead on wendy7713@icloud.com
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