Ross-shire residents speak out on living with dementia for awareness week in bid to increase understanding of condition
Two Ross-shire residents have spoken movingly about living with dementia as part of a nationwide campaign to increase understanding of the condition.
Maureen McClung, of Dingwall, and Sean – who prefers not to share his full name – have both been talking about their experiences to support Dementia Awareness Week, which begins on today (Monday, May 29).
Maureen and Sean are among the 3000 people in Scotland who have been diagnosed with the condition before they reach their 65th birthday.
Both hope that their stories can help change perceptions of dementia, reduce the stigma surrounding it and offer people hope.
Sometimes it fights me and sometimes I fight it, but I’m learning to live with dementia. It's an adjustment – life-changing really but we are getting there. - Sean
A key campaign message is that early diagnosis allows people to receive the treatment and support they need to help them live well with the condition.
“I don’t feel sad in myself because I’ve got dementia,” says former call centre worker Maureen, who was diagnosed two years ago.
“You just have to live with it and take life as it comes. Although there are things I can’t do anymore – such as using my car – I’m not feeling sorry for myself.”
Her family began noticing signs a couple of years before Maureen was diagnosed, as husband Robert recalls: “Maureen would always call her sons by the wrong name –things like that.”
“Then she started forgetting words in sentences. Soon we thought ‘this isn’t right – we all forget things but it’s all adding up to something bigger’.
“I think we got it at the right time,” says Maureen. “The hardest part of it was starting the medication and getting that balance, but I think I’m okay now.
“I liked my job, and the routine, but I can still do things. It’s nice to meet up with people but we don’t really talk about dementia – we catch up about what’s been happening in Coronation Street.”
Says Robert: “Maureen is a positive person and her outlook is always life-enhancing. We like social occasions. Our family, neighbours and friends know Maureen has dementia and that’s the way we want it.”
Sean, who was diagnosed three years ago, says: “You assume dementia is an old person’s thing. I didn’t have any one-on-one person experience of people with dementia.
“I understood quite a lot about it in theory, but in practice it’s different.
“My diagnosis was a traumatising time. For a year and a half, I was really angry and battling with it, and the support worker from Alzheimer Scotland told me it’s something you’ve got to live with.
“I never understood that but I do now. Sometimes it fights me and sometimes I fight it, but I’m learning to live with dementia. It's an adjustment – life-changing really but we are getting there.
Sean’s wife Stacey said: “Even with dementia, Sean’s still a very caring husband – generous and always wanting to help. For me, it’s about trying to be patient and changing my personality to manage the dementia and fit round Sean.
“Trying not to treat him like a child is a huge thing that I try not to do. We often laugh about the dementia and say it’s another person and not him. It’s got part of him but not all of him.
The needs of people facing dementia younger in life bring in different challenges, says Alzheimer Scotland chief executive Henry Simmons.
“Younger people are more likely to be in work, have family responsibilities or be facing financial commitments, says Mr Simmons. “The emotional impact of a dementia diagnosis can be huge, particularly at a younger age, a timely diagnosis means that people can start coming to terms with the illness, learn how to cope and begin to make decisions and plan for their future.
"With the right help and support we know people can live well with dementia, that is why we are doing all that we can to ensure that high quality post diagnostic support is provided for every person throughout Scotland with no exceptions”
Mr Simmons invited people to support Alzheimer Scotland’s campaigns and to find out more about their innovative work by signing up to their e-bulletin which provides regular updates to supporters, members, people with dementia and their families and carers.
“We want people to lend their support to our campaigns and to develop a better understanding of dementia and the small things you can do to help people around you. This helps Alzheimer Scotland to make sure nobody faces dementia alone”, said Mr Simmons.
