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• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 07 >> Is in favour of testing if early detection might allow for treatment that could slow the course of the disease.

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 13 >> Daughter wonders if her mothers slight improvement on Aricept was due to the drug or to no longer living on her own.

Her mother developed Lewy Body Dementia while living alone in Paris. After many crises her mother has accepted that she cannot return to her flat and that she move to England to live with her daughter. Treated with Exelon then Aricept.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 44 >> The carer feels that the chance of his wife benefiting from treatment was reduced due to the delay in confirming the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

She was 86 when she started to have symptoms of dementia. Her doctor mistook it for old age. Prescribed Aricept but husband felt it had been left too late. Cared for at home helped by live-in couple. Attended day centre.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Caring for parents >> Interview 04 >> Feels that it would not be an advantage for her mother to take a drug which would keep her at a confused intermediate stage of her illness.

Distance care difficult as mother refused to accept help. Difficulty communicating with social services. Had to apply for a Court of Protection order to control her finances. Problems finding a suitable nursing home. She twice escaped.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 08 >> Insisted that his wife was given a prescription for Aricept.

He felt he had to fight to get the care she needed when she needed it. Indignant that medication was refused on grounds of cost but did persuade GP to give Aricept though he admits it didn't do her any good. Life is very lonely since she died.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Women caring for partners >> Interview 16 >> Carer was upset to find that once her husband left the trial he no longer received the attention he had been getting while he was on it.

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.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Caring for parents >> Interview 15 >> Carer felt unable to assert herself but suspected the motives of the professionals deciding whether her mother should be given medication.

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.

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• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Treatment for Alzheimer's disease >> Treatment for Alzheimer's disease

Treatment for Alzheimer's disease

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Women caring for partners >> Interview 23 >> Carer is grateful that her partner who was in his 60's was allowed to take Aricept even though it was not expected to be helpful.

Has been able to cope with caring for him at home. He attends a day centre and he has regular respite care. Doesn't feel ready to consider full time residential care for him but has felt it necessary to look out for homes which might be suitable.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Women caring for partners >> Interview 22 >> Carer felt that the chance that a drug might help was sufficient to justify its use and that it was wrong to have to pay for this.

Was cared for at home until very recently when he was admitted to residential care. Before this he attended a day centre with residential respite every 6 weeks. Later was on Exelon but taken off when he developed side-effects.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Women caring for partners >> Interview 22 >> Exelon made her husband ill and was expensive.

Was cared for at home until very recently when he was admitted to residential care. Before this he attended a day centre with residential respite every 6 weeks. Later was on Exelon but taken off when he developed side-effects.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Caring with young children >> Interview 39 >> Carer valued the support she got through her husband's being included in a research programme.

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.