One of the loveliest aspects of becoming a parent has been taking our daughter on various trips to meet her extended family. On one such trip we were given a gift, not of a teddy or a baby outfit, but…
Tag: relationships
Driving, dementia, and doing the right thing
Whenever dementia diagnosis is discussed, one of the major barriers that explains why people delay seeking a diagnosis is the fear of giving up driving. It is understandable and something I can relate to. I live in a very rural…
Terms of endearment – The ‘darling’ debate
A couple of months ago the Care Quality Commission (CQC) released a report detailing an inspection of a care home in Harrogate where the language used by staff when communicating with residents came under the spotlight. Care home staff had…
Remember me
My dad’s legacy Since 2012, this slide is how I have finished many a presentation at a conference or event. It’s a simple philosophy, but a highly effective one at helping audiences remain grounded in the most vital aspect of…
Focus on carers
Today sees the start of the annual Carers Week, an important campaign to help raise the profile and needs of carers in the UK and celebrate the vital contribution they make to society. This year’s theme is ‘Carer Friendly Communities’,…
Happy birthday to my dad
Today would have been my dad’s 88th birthday. By sheer coincidence, this blog is also my 150th on D4Dementia. How I have managed to bring these two milestones together I have absolutely no idea, but it makes this blog post extra special.…
B for Burden?
I vividly remember as a child the first major bereavement in my life. The sudden death of my maternal grandmother came as a huge shock to my whole family and left my mother utterly devastated. As a small child I…
A moving experience
Moving into a new home is always stressful. I spent most of 2014 trying to move house, and I can testify to why it is generally considered to be one of the most stressful life events, alongside bereavement, divorce, major…
Humanity in care – The role of touch
One of the most controversial elements of care provision is touch. It has a discomfort associated with it for many professionals, and even family members can have deep reservations about touch. It can be associated with abuse, both by ignoring…
Carer’s questions – How do I look after myself?
Welcome to the last of my seven ‘mini’ blogs for UK Carers Week 2014. As regular readers of this blog know, I cared for my father for 19 years during his vascular dementia. For the majority of that time, however, I never…