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• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Caring for parents >> Interview 09 >> It would have been hard to predict how dementia would affect her mother. Wishes she could have alleviated her agitation.

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 >> Caring for parents >> Interview 52 >> Describes how he at least was not aware that his father had ever actually been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Deterioration was gradual over 14 years. Day care was gradually increased. Hospitalised when he became ill and then went into residential care where he was happy. Difficult for his wife as they had been married 74 years. She is now also in residential care.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Women caring for partners >> Interview 25 >> Had trouble getting information and found that professionals, who were presumably familiar with the system, did not explain enough.

Cared for by his wife at home. Was terrified when left in respite care so wife removed him within hours. Developed Parkinsons disease. Was admitted to hospital for assessment and subsequently transferred to residential care.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Women caring for partners >> Interview 16 >> Had thought that dementia only affected elderly people.

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 >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 07 >> Initially they found a fair amount of information themselves. Looking back he thinks they should have joined the Alzheimer's Society earlier.

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 >> Women caring for partners >> Interview 25 >> Found an Alzheimer's Society booklet on caring for someone with dementia very useful.

Cared for by his wife at home. Was terrified when left in respite care so wife removed him within hours. Developed Parkinsons disease. Was admitted to hospital for assessment and subsequently transferred to residential care.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Women caring for partners >> Interview 16 >> Describes feeling dropped into thin air after the diagnosis - hospital test results were provided by letter but seemed irrelevant to her most pressing

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 >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 31 >> Has learnt a lot about how to cope through other carers and a helpful CPN.

He gave up work to be a full time carer but when she took to her bed for several months it was decided that she needed residential care. As she refused, it was necessary to section her to make the transfer possible.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Caring for parents >> Interview 11 >> Suggests that other carers should get in touch with their local support groups.

She managed for a time to care for her mother in her own home which was nearby but eventually had to agree to her going into a nursing home.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Caring for parents >> Interview 29 >> Was unable to spot early signs of dementia in his mother even though he is medically trained and had seen his grandmother with dementia.

His 65 year old mother had lived alone but consented to come and live with him. After a few months he realised he could not care for her adequately while continuing to work and she went into residential care.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 08 >> Advises others to get information as soon as possible after the diagnosis.

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 >> Caring with young children >> Interview 21 >> Would have been more patient with her husband had she known more about the nature of the disease.

Her husband developed Picks' disease when he was 57. The patchy nature of his dementia made it difficult to convince people that his problems were real. Delay in getting the diagnosis meant they experienced extreme difficulties in accessing his health insurance.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 07 >> His information needs changed over time - from physiological and psychological explanations to how to manage the caring role.

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 >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 50 >> Explains that he has picked up most practical information from other carers.

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 >> Women caring for partners >> Interview 16 >> Explains the value of the practical information and support from other carers in the Alzheimer's Society.

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 11 >> Thinks the advice and support from good friends and the Alzheimer's Society have been invaluable.

She managed for a time to care for her mother in her own home which was nearby but eventually had to agree to her going into a nursing home.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Caring with young children >> Interview 39 >> Wonders if perhaps she had more information than she wanted from the Alzheimer's Society.

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 >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 45 >> Describes how he learnt to assess residential homes.

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 31 >> Could afford to pay for his wife's residential care and was given little help claiming funding she was entitled to.

He gave up work to be a full time carer but when she took to her bed for several months it was decided that she needed residential care. As she refused, it was necessary to section her to make the transfer possible.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 31 >> Denying carers important support by not giving them any information about for example the Alzheimer's Society.

He gave up work to be a full time carer but when she took to her bed for several months it was decided that she needed residential care. As she refused, it was necessary to section her to make the transfer possible.

• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Men caring for partners >> Interview 08 >> Was concerned about his wife's feelings when he had to deal with intimate aspects of her toilet.

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 23 >> There should be a checklist of things carers may need to know.

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.

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• Nerves & brain >> Carers of people with dementia >> Looking for information >> Looking for information

Looking for information