Bill and Doreen's Story
Bill and Doreen came to Alzheimer's Support in 2009 after Doreen had been struggling with memory loss and related symptoms for many months.
Bill said: “I first noticed that things were wrong with Doreen because she started to argue with the dentist which was so unlike her. Then she just withdrew from village life. She didn’t want to get involved with the gardening club or to see friends anymore.
“The hardest thing was getting our doctor to take it seriously. Doreen just withdrew and part of that was she wasn’t going to tell the GP what was going on and he refused to talk to me about it, saying it wouldn’t be ethical without her permission.
“So we struggled on. Doreen had forgotten how to cook and wouldn’t read a book. Now I understand that she just wasn’t able to do it any more because she couldn’t think through the tasks she had to do, to put a meal together, or work in the garden. But she used to get so frustrated with everything. It was very difficult.
“I was totally isolated at that point but then I came across Alzheimer’s Support and Anna Spear in particular who helped me to understand what was going on and so realized I wasn’t alone. I went to a carers’ group each month and met other people in a similar situation to my own and that was so helpful. Doreen didn’t want to go to day clubs or anything like that, but it helped to know the support was there and Anna popped in whenever she could.
“Then we got a new doctor. I rang up and explained the situation and she came out to see us right away. It made such a difference to be listened to.
“Doreen is in residential care now and we have been so lucky because it is such a good place she is in she has got her old spark back and is able to laugh and joke again. She was in hospital for a few weeks before she transferred to residential care and she lost a lot of weight and came out in a terrible state. But now she seems so much happier. The other day she was looking at a gardening book and identifying the flowers from the garden, and she walks up and down outside quite happily. The change has been quite dramatic.”
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