What is Dementia ?

  2 minute read  

Every day, we read of new treatments, tests, cures, the world is desperate for one, TODAY.

The sad reality, it is still, a long way away with over 100 types of dementia.

My beloved Mum did everything right, eat only organic food, cooked with stainless steel pans, exercised every day, used her brilliant mind. She taught at UNSW for 30 years. Ran the Rose Bay Residents Association for 20 years fighting for justice. And she still was diagnosed with dementia in January 2013 at 81 years of age.

I read up on all the right foods she should eat, blueberries, she had them everyday, I read up on all the vitamins she should take. Poor mum rattled every day with so many vitamins. She attended Tai Chi classes, Lesley one her amazing carers took her to yoga once a week, but sadly she still declined.

As she did, all I cared about, was, is Mum happy. This was my goal every single day. She could eat whatever she wanted, chocolate / ice-cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner. She hated showering, I made it a game and made sure we laughed every single time she had one and made sure we laughed every single day.

Our bodies were not designed to live so long, we are living far longer.

Programmed senescence time to live. has a cut off point of living well to approximately 70 years of age. As we are living much longer well into our 80’s and 90’s and beyond, 1 in 3 are being diagnosed with dementia.

Dementia is where their brain is dying, and parts of their brains stop working and for each one, it is a unique journey. It can also be called ‘failure of the brain,’ ‘selective amnesia’. When a Rolls Royce breaks down, Rolls use to day ‘failed to proceed.’

Everyone is frightened of being diagnosed with dementia, and so much is being done to create dementia friendly communities, ensure they have much support and care so they have a great quality of life.

But so little is being done for carers and I’m determined to change this around the globe.