It’s not easy to know where to begin with a blog on the current monumentally uncertain times that the world is facing, but I’m going to attempt to address the coronavirus disaster (I don’t think the word crisis goes far…
Tag: activity
I need you
In my 2013 blog post ‘What is dementia’ I focused on the symptoms of dementia, noting the following amongst my very long list of ways in which a person can be affected by dementia: “An increasing need for reassurance (someone…
Why activity is everyone’s business
Go into most care homes and you will see a familiar array of staff, from carers to chefs, housekeepers to maintenance personnel. A role you will also often encounter is that of an ‘activity coordinator’. All of my dad’s three…
Holiday season
August in the UK is traditionally seen as the holiday month. Apart from the fact that most families with school-age children are restricted to holidaying at this time of year due to education regulations, there seems to be a mass…
Reablement for people with dementia
As we approach Easter, a time associated with rebirth, new life, possibility and opportunity, I have found myself thinking about how this correlates with the experience of living with dementia. Historically, a diagnosis of dementia has been seen as a…
On the move
For everyone who is fortunate enough to be able to move around independently, I would estimate that most take that for granted. Likewise, I would suggest that one of the key ideas people have about ageing is that immobility is…
Risk verses reward
I’m not quite sure when it happened, but it seems that wrapping human beings up in cotton wool has become a habit that many individuals and organisations are struggling to get out of. Prime candidates for this approach are anyone who…
Design challenge
As our population ages, designing environments that are aesthetically pleasing whilst also offering exceptional functionality is one of the key challenges in helping our older generation to enjoy longevity in happiness and comfort. Where we live, work or socialise has…
The ageing mind
Given that dementia is one of the diseases that people fear the most, there is a very strange acceptance that we will all have ‘memory problems’ as we get older. Indeed the government’s National Clinical Director for Dementia, Alistair Burns,…
Keeping it relevant
Having enjoyed our summer, or perhaps endured it as many UK readers may prefer to recall our latest disappointing attempt at warm, sunny weather, autumn is now well and truly upon us, and with it many sights and sensations that pose…
Time well spent
Discussing my dad’s journey with dementia often brings a fascinating insight into people’s perceptions of the life I had during my father’s nine years in care homes. One reoccurring theme is the assumption that being part of dad’s life during…
A ‘can do’ attitude
Watching Paralympians you cannot help but be inspired by their ‘can do’ attitude. For these athletes, there is no barrier too great or no dream they cannot fulfil, which for a society that so often sees the negative before the…
Singing from the same hymn sheet
Improving the quality of life for people with dementia, especially in the more advanced stages of the disease when they may have very limited communication or ability to do anything for themselves, is one of my biggest passions. Over the…