Dandenong RSL aged care community co-ordinator John Filmer says it is important for the community to learn more about Alzheimer’s.
By Melissa Meehan
IMAGINE not being able to help the man you love.
Think about going to wash the dishes, only to turn around for him to be nowhere in sight.
You don’t drive and he could be anywhere.
This is the reality for a Dandenong woman who is slowly losing her husband to Alzheimer’s.
She does not want others to know her name, but she wants to tell her story.
Her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s eight years ago and his health and mental capabilities have been fading slowly.
She describes the past three years as hectic.
“It was a real struggle,” she said. “When he was at home I couldn’t go out unless a carer came in. He cleaned the house and cared for my husband while I would do the shopping.”
It became more difficult in the later stages as he started to wander.
“He’d be gone in two seconds,” she said.
“I’d have to call the police on occasions.”
The hardest thing, she says, is that her husband today is far from the person she fell in love with.
“He was a placid man, the life of the party, very social,” she said.
“But he is not like that now, he can get aggressive and withdrawn.”
She said her daughter and grandchildren have been good about dealing with his illness.
“At first my grand-daughter was terrified, but now she knows how to handle him.”
This family is not alone: in 2008 there were 58,140 people with dementia in Victoria with an average of 280 new cases being diagnosed each week.
Alzheimers Australia, the Victorian Veterans Council and the RSL are offering presentations to the veteran community that will explore how memory works, memory changes and useful tips on looking after your brain at no charge.
The presentation will be held from 1pm to 3pm on Thursday 16 July at the Dandenong RSL Sub Branch.
Bookings are essential, on 9792 1535.
