Column | When memory fades — dementia uncovered

We all seem to take things for granted and expect people to just keep going on, but sickness is always close by.

Sometimes the pressure is just too much – and even worse for the person living with the extra frustration of dementia.

The frustration of head pressure, emotion, and on top of that, trying to keep up with everyday life and expectations of others who take you for granted.

When the cup runs over — no matter if it is a person with dementia or a carer — it is hard to find peace.

For a person with the dementia, 80 per cent of life can be lonely — but when the cup flows over, that 80 per cent can become 99 per cent.

Then your mental health is more important than ever.

How do we fix this, when the doctors cannot tell you?

For example, the GP sends you to a geriatrician who in turn sends you to a psychologist, simply because the first two cannot get the medication right.

So who do you believe? More frustration erupts.

It is very hard to get the right person to help, and if you do, you only hope they can stay around.

For some with dementia, life lingers on and for others they may seem okay, and within months, the boss upstairs points his finger to come.

More times in meetings with health professionals, the people around the table seem to be fixated on people over 60.

This must change — especially when teaching our next professionals.

As I have said before, dementia is now a whole-of-life disease.

I might sound cynical, but this is down to truth and fact.

To people with dementia, this is why in a lot of cases the cup does run over.

I have said numerous times that people with dementia have to speak with other people with dementia.

They need to be teamed up with a person of roughly the same condition, if possible, to speak freely — just so the cup doesn’t run over.

— Mick Simpson

For local help in Kyabram, ring Kyabram Community and Learning Centre on 5852 0000 or the 24-hour Australia-wide Dementia Australia Hotline on 1800 11 500.