I had a wonderful time at Woodbrooke last weekend on an Exploring Sensory Being Retreat.
Our senses become more important and exaggerated and some we begin to lose through the progression of our Dementia.
The 3 days were delivered in a way that left time to process information but in saying that, the detail has become lost in the fog of Dementia but my electronic back up brain via notes I made at the time in Microsoft OneNote will still be there in the future.
You may question reader why a person living with Dementia would try to learn new things when the popular perception of Dementia is memory loss.
Living with Dementia is a lot more than about memory and it is often claimed that our feelings may be the last emotion to go.
Those 3 days were a little bit of the normality I had before my diagnosis, a little window on my past but also maybe I subconsciously learned a little about our senses that may guide me in the future.
If I took anything away from those 3 days it was the realisation that some of the challenges were down to this insidious disease and that some of the strategies I now use to overcome those challenges have put me on the right path and positive feelings of having achieved something and done something different.
A small victory on the inevitable path to the future.
Priceless emotions to take forward into an increasingly bleak future.
There is a new Internet Radio Station DEEPNess Dementia Radio click on the link to find out more
Petitions
Petition – Don’t put our NHS up for negotiation
See dementia as a terminal illness so under 65’s are instantly eligible for PIP (9 Oct 19)
Petition – No more PIP Assessments for People with Life Long Disability or Conditions
Justice for Jodey Whiting. Independent inquiry into deaths linked to the DWP
Consultations
Consultation – Learning disability and autism training for health and care staff
General Pharmaceutical Council – Consultation on guidance for pharmacist prescribers
Survey
Needs of Young People with Dementia 2019
Welcome to the Dementia 2020 Citizens’ Engagement Panel online Hub
Videos
Radio
Dimensions of Dementia – A Mother and Sons Journey Together
Newsletters
Young Onset Dementia Alzheimer’s Group (YODA)
Blog
” There are so many ‘unexpecteds’ about having Dementia but for me, amongst a lot of dreadful things, the shining positive is the number of wonderful friends I have made.I would want to say to anyone who has a diagnosis is find a Dementia Community, somewhere you can meet other people in your situation, preferably at a similar stage to you and leave the carers behind. “
Shelagh Robinson’s article titled Get Dementia, get friends.
New Resources
Young Dementia UK – A decision-making guide for GPs
Dementia words matter: A DEEP guideline on language about dementia