• Clip
• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Caring for parents >> Interview 15 >> Suspects that her mother has some idea what is wrong but is unsure that she wants it to be confirmed.

Her mother had been an independent widowed woman. They had hoped when they were able to move her nearby that this arrangement would be adequate for several years but before long she had to go into residential care.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Caring with young children >> Interview 39 >> Was not sure if her husband was aware that he had a problem with reading and spelling.

Dismissed unexpectedly from the Army where he worked on chemical defence. Unable to get a new job. Diagnosis took about 3 years. Wife worked 1 day a week, and cared for him and children. Difficult finding appropriate care. Died while in residential care.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Caring for parents >> Interview 09 >> Feels her mother's restlessness and agitation was caused by her attempt to bring order to the chaos in her mind.

Her mother, a strong minded widow, bitterly resisted surrendering her freedom and finally had to be sectioned before being transferred to residential care. She died recently twenty years after the first signs of her dementia, in a nursing home.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 50 >> His suspicions were reinforced by family members who had not seen his wife for some time.

Developed symptoms in her sixties and guessed herself what it was. Dementia progressed but Alzheimers was never actually confirmed. Separation difficulties with day care but easy transfer to residential care. Was treated with tegretol because she developed epilepsy.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 46 >> He realised that his wife was aware that something was happening to her.

When brain scan was found to be normal was admitted for a week's assessment. Diagnosed as having Pick's disease (fronto-temporal dementia) Cared for at home, with day care and regular residential respite, finally in residential care.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 02 >> His wife recognised her problem early having had experience with family members who had Alzheimer's disease.

Her mental and physical condition has deteriorated steadily since she herself first recognized she had a problem in 1991. She can now no longer talk or walk. Cared for at home and day-care centre.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 45 >> While he struggles to dress his wife he reflects on what her feelings might be about her total dependency.

Symptoms began just before moving from long term family home to smaller house. Initially cared for at home with carers coming to the house, attended day centre with weeks in residential respite. Complaints from neighbours. Now in residential care.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 46 >> He can only guess at what she is feeling.

When brain scan was found to be normal was admitted for a week's assessment. Diagnosed as having Pick's disease (fronto-temporal dementia) Cared for at home, with day care and regular residential respite, finally in residential care.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 60 >> Wonders if the desire to escape was an attempt to overcome the confusion in her mind.

He was able to care for her in their own home until a very short time before she died. She went into residential care for a short respite and settled in well. Soon afterwards when her condition deteriorated she was found a room and moved there permanently.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 07 >> Describes his reluctance to be underhand with his wife.

Gradual onset mistaken for depression. Diagnosis given jointly to husband and wife. Slow progression. Problem with restlessness and wandering. Very involved with the local Alzheimers disease society. He tries to involve her in decisions where possible. Initially prescribed antidepressants later given trial of Reminyl. Later benifited from sedatives and sleeping tablets.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Caring for parents >> Interview 18 >> There were several crises before her mother agreed to stop driving.

At 80 her mother was still a vigorous, independent woman. First care home insisted on her being sectioned so she was moved to a locked assessment ward. Appalled by this her daughters found a secure long-term home for her where she spent the last 18 months of her life.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Caring for parents >> Interview 09 >> Anxiety about what she might have forgotten made her mother feel there was somewhere she had to go.

Her mother, a strong minded widow, bitterly resisted surrendering her freedom and finally had to be sectioned before being transferred to residential care. She died recently twenty years after the first signs of her dementia, in a nursing home.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Women caring for partners >> Interview 16 >> Her husband who had frontal lobe dementia developed visual and spatial problems and recognised that he should no longer drive.

He was cared for at home for 7 years. When things got really difficult he spent 18 months in residential care after which his wife was able to bring him home again with the additional support of either a live-in carer, or two live-in carers in rotation - working alternate weeks.