Dementia Stories
Podcasts of conversations with people living with dementia.
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Living with James Part 2
01/28/2022
Living with James Part 2
Starting with her return from the short break in Florida in 2015 Dot talks about how things began to change and sadly deteriorate. James stopped eating and stayed in his bed most of the time. Despite being seen at the hospital nothing helped .Dot certainly needed the break that working at the Thrift Shop on a Friday provided-even though it meant leaving James on his own. Eventually he was in so much pain James himself asked Dot to get the doctor and was taken to the Royal Infirmary where they were asked to consider a 'Do Not Resuscitate decision' During his last days in the hospital ,James was visited by his family and Dot remembers him smiling at his six-month-old grand-daughter Lily. Dot tells us about some the things that they investigated to help support them :groups were not a success ,but James did enjoy going to the bookies and placing a bet. His memory and confusion issues also meant that over time he didn't enjoy seeing the family-apart from the baby. The changes in James personality and moods were the hardest for everyone. Dot describes this as being like Jekyll and Hyde-or that James had been taken over by an alien-as he was not the man she knew or loved .Her faith is very important and at times she would go to the church for some peace-even if she was sometimes angry with God. Her advice for someone in a similar situation? Don't shout, try not to get too upset, go off and have some quiet time. Dot always had a standby bar of chocolate or a cake to make her feel better. Looking back on those last years and final days, Dot knows she has lots of lovely memories and funny times which help block out the difficult ones. Despite the long goodbye, Dot and James were able to to say their final goodbyes which is a great comfort to her
/episode/index/show/dementiaconversations/id/21878912
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Living with James Part 1
01/24/2022
Living with James Part 1
Dementia has been described as the long goodbye and in this podcast in our Dementia Stories feature we hear Dot Yorkston talking about saying goodbye to her husband James. She tells us about the last years when they lived with his Vascular Dementia describing his first symptoms in particular his mood and temper issues and how it was an eye specialist who advised them to go for further tests. The original diagnosis from the Western General was a surprise but despite increasing worries about his memory and lack of appetite support and advice was slow. Unfortunately these also did not prove very helpful sometimes contact and sessions resulted in upsetting James more. A social work referral led to the Living Memory Association becoming involved and Miles starting visiting James at home. James and Miles established a good relationship which allowed Dot to have some time for herself. Some days were better than others and they did have days when they enjoyed reminiscing but taking on the household management caring for James and the worry of his moods meant Dot herself was shattered . With her family's support Dot booked a short trip to Florida. Despite her anxieties about leaving James she went to places that they had visited together and when she returned home they had a lovely time together for two weeks as James seemed more settled. Although his mood did change again suddenly Dot is positive that she benefitted from the holiday and was able to relax while she was away
/episode/index/show/dementiaconversations/id/21862169
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May Barbour (and Otto)- remembering Douglas part two
10/26/2021
May Barbour (and Otto)- remembering Douglas part two
In this second part of our conversation about living with dementia May talks about the loss of communication with Douglas May movingly describes how Douglas's death was not so distressing for her as the man she loved had already disappeared. May feels strongly that families should be helped to understand the diagnosis and its implications to help support their partner or parent living with dementia.
/episode/index/show/dementiaconversations/id/20927156
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May Barbour (and Otto the Labrador)-Remembering Douglas part one
10/25/2021
May Barbour (and Otto the Labrador)-Remembering Douglas part one
Douglas Barbour who died last year, and his wife May lived with Alzheimer's Dementia for many years. In this podcast May describes noticing early changes in Douglas's memory and how these changes affected their lives. Her primary concern was always to protect him Living with dementia for so many years affected their health and well being however having a family dog continued to be very important to everyone in the family particularly Douglas and May
/episode/index/show/dementiaconversations/id/20926766
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May Hoare: My Diary and Me
09/02/2021
May Hoare: My Diary and Me
In this podcast May discusses using her diary She finds it very important to record what she will be doing and would be quite lost without it May describes how she became aware of her memory problems and moved back to Edinburgh to be near her family . She tries not to worry too much and occupies her time, knitting, listening to the radio , walking up and down stairs for exercise, how much she enjoyed Fran's Thursday craft group at The Living Memory and is still enjoying coming in to visit us. .
/episode/index/show/dementiaconversations/id/20318726
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Robert Hogg : a husband's experience
08/04/2021
Robert Hogg : a husband's experience
This is a conversation with Robert Hogg whose wife Sophie was featured in an earlier podcast. He describes their reaction to Sophie's diagnosis of vascular dementia. Robert's support has been crucial to how they have managed this diagnosis as a couple . Both Sophie and Robert found the supper club for people living with dementia and their carers a useful support group Covid and lockdown have made Sophie more anxious. His response to these changes is to keep busy plan ahead and plan an alternative.
/episode/index/show/dementiaconversations/id/20033075
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May Hoare
07/23/2021
May Hoare
In this conversation May Hoare tells us about her time boarding at Dollar Academy. May's parents were from Scotland and she was born in Blantyre Malawi. Aged11 she and her older sister were sent to boarding school in Fife as both grandmothers lived nearby. She talks about not seeing her parents for a long time and spending time at her grannies houses in the holidays.
/episode/index/show/dementiaconversations/id/19905992
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Sophie Hogg : Dementia Stories
07/22/2021
Sophie Hogg : Dementia Stories
Sophie Hogg talks about how she felt when she was diagnosed with of Vascular Dementia. She had no idea that she had dementia The shock and issues such as power of attorney were very confusing for both Sophie and her husband. She tells us how they have adapted to living with dementia as a couple-before and during Covid Lockdown how difficult it was and what support and activities, such as going to the gym and swimming, that she found helpful. She also has ideas for on-going support particularly for carers
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