Truth about dementia tv prog tonight just aired

Georgina63

Registered User
Aug 11, 2014
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Just watched it

I've read with interest all the comments following the programme so just watched it on iplayer.

I thought there were many positive aspects, interesting research, an understanding of early stages including coping strategies (eg the use of iPad), reinforcement that it is a disease (not natural ageing). Also quite harrowing/moving accounts from those with dementia gene and early onset.

But by the end, I was thinking where is the explanation of the true reality of the symptoms as this degenerative disease progresses? There's a danger that those unfamiliar with the disease view it as primarily a loss of memory (perhaps with the exception of the account of the man whose brother had early onset and now bedridden, and also a passing comment about how dementia starts with memory, then other problems). Missing explanation of the many different types of dementia ok and how symptoms can differ greatly between individuals. Also misleading is showing the retirement villages, classes etc vs the reality of some care facilities.

Also phrases like 'reverse the effects of dementia', 'the more educated you are the lower the risk' are potentially misleading. As for 'I'd like to think I wouldn't allow the disease to take over my life' - how could this be the case if you'd witnessed someone eventually dying from dementia (coupled with which there was no explanation of final stages and how indeed this contributes to death)? Perhaps this wasn't the intention of the program, though it would make people take more notice, as unless you are experiencing it, I imagine it's all too easy to watch and then move on!

P.S. Both of my parents have Alzheimer's, presenting at different stages and with differing symptoms and behaviour.

Georgina X
 

Georgina63

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Aug 11, 2014
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Good definition!

: anodyne



1.


not likely to cause offence or disagreement and somewhat dull


bland, inoffensive, innocuous, neutral, unobjectionable, unexceptionable, unremarkable, commonplace, dull, tedious, run-of-the-mill

Great description! Barely scratched the surface which is a shame. If I didn't have first hand experience X 2 might I be thinking it's not so bad after all? What a missed opportunity. G x
 

Georgina63

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Aug 11, 2014
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Alternative title?

It felt to me as though the whole dementia issue was being skirted around because it was just 'too uncomfortable'. I know they only had an hour and could probably fill a series, but it was misleading to call it the 'truth'...

I like Angela Rippon but she seemed quite awkward in this. I'm sure it's a difficult subject for her and I'm guessing (hoping?) she has more insight than the programme showed.

I agree it was very lightweight in terms of describing the reality (even to the point that I have experienced where both parents still at home with Alzheimer's).
Maybe it should have been called The Truth - but only about the very early stages when things are not too bad'?!
G x
 

Oxy

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Jul 19, 2014
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Misrepresentation

This program was not the whole truth about dementia-hence a misrepresentation. This is not needed in a world where so little is comprehended. Very disappointed this morning that there was no response from AS on Points of view on BBC news slot in the morning. A missed opportunity to state the truth.
 

Peter_h

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Dec 14, 2011
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Dukinfield Near Manchester
Memory training?

I too, watched the Angela Rippon program and I understand the criticicisms but I wonder if anyone can tell me the source of the 'quizzes/games' we saw where people were matching shapes etc. I live in a community with my wife and she together with a number of other residents have Alzheimers and I would like to set up some regular sessions to help improve/preserve memory for everyone.
Any suggestions will be much appreciated.
Peter_h
 

Rich PCA Carer

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Aug 31, 2015
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North Gloucestershire, UK
I feel that the programme was deliberately aimed at the Truth of your chances of getting dementia or should I say Alzheimer's and what you might be able to do about it. Showing the general public what it is actually like to have dementia or care for someone with dementia was not included since this would only alarm people and their remit seems to have been to reduce concern about getting dementia and not heighten the fear of the consequences of getting it.

The bit about Rippon agonising over her genetic disposition to dementia was very poorly judged and should not have been included. Wasn't she so very brave to have the test ... and so stupid as to not realise that it was pointless.

Overall the programme was very thin on content, like most programmes on the TV these days.

It would be most helpful if they could produce a programme about the injustice thrust upon carers by the financial, social and mental impacts of caring in the name of keeping down the costs to the public purse, and also the impacts on people with dementia of unacceptably poor standards of care in most care homes and in particular in hospitals.

Integrated person centred care would be very, very nice, but it a long way off for the vast majority.




Sent from my iPad using Talking Point
 

CollegeGirl

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Jan 19, 2011
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North East England
I deliberately didn't watch it, so I shouldn't judge. However, one of my work colleagues did, and she thought it was very good, but she doesn't have any personal experience of dementia. Her 85 year old mother still has a mind as sharp as a pin, luckily.

I tried to explain that it's not just about memory loss, but it's very hard to get the message across to those with no experience of it, unless you're prepared to really go into the nitty gritty, and who wants to hear about that, when they don't have to? And even then, they probably still won't understand the relentlessness of it all, and how it just grinds a person down. That only comes with bitter experience.

I suppose years ago I'd have been the same, with absolutely no idea of what life is like for a sufferer or a carer.

How I wish I still didn't.
 
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looviloo

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May 3, 2015
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Cheshire
It was pointed out to me by a twitter contact that the programme was intended to demonstrate the "science behind dementia" which probably makes more sense? However that doesn't stop it being a disappointment to those of us who would like to see frank and honest depictions of dementia (in all it's forms) out there in the public eye.

Link here to the press release:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/the-truth-about-dementia
 

supertrooper

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Jul 18, 2011
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Jenifer Bute - A glorious opportunity

Peter H. Check out her videos and website. This lovely lady was the GP with dementia running the classes you refer to.

Get back if you need more info.
 

chrisdee

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Nov 23, 2014
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Yorkshire
Other half and I watched the programme with a friend of our own age who was visiting.
Certainly it was nothing to 'frighten the horses'. It just shows you how any future political oversight of the BBC would be used to 'sanitise' issue driven documentaries,
not that I am a great supporter of anything too establishment.
Anyway, with careful examples, we told our friend some of the home truths about a pretty average case of Alzhiemers ie my Mum, mentioning how everyday people often turn into monstrosities of their former selves and what family carers have to deal with on a day to day basis. Of course, most honest folk are genuinely shocked, and worst of all, this is happening thousands of times a day up and down the country. As a former carer of recent vintage, I certainly do not enjoy it all being a well-kept secret.
 
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JohnBG

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Apr 20, 2016
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Lancashire UK
Truth...

We should know what we are getting similar to the truth about cancer, eat chocolate, go for a long walk, think positive..done, I find all that rubbish offensive, I call it the celebrated version no attempt at reality.

I do understand that high function, that is the same with any disability negates the truth as almost non event, or what the fuss is all about. Wheeling out productive individuals as if that were the norm.

It may well be 60 years before a substantive improvement of a remedy is proposed, the expectation of immanent an obscure concept. Perhaps the day to day challenge we all face does not make viewable television so a lame production of this global problem.

Good luck everyone, take care.

John.
 

supertrooper

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Jul 18, 2011
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Spot on Kassy..

I was irritated by the programme. Angela Rippon I like but how awkward!

She looks bright, moves like a galloping horse and speaks intelligently. The smile throughout "jarred" considering the picture of those suffering dementia and the lives of their carers.

...Looks good seeing a person with altzheimers at ease still able to read and draw circles and do simple maths. It is soul destroying for those who have moved out of this stage. Watching it made me feel that people with no experience of dementia will imagine that there is nothing to it. You know - just socialise and try to learn??..... "What's all the fuss about altzheimers?" mentality.

I think it has showed altzheimers in a ridiculous, very rose tinted fashion.
....It's all been said in this thread. I agree it's certainly put us back.
 

Chemmy

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Nov 7, 2011
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Yorkshire
I can't see how you could show the real truth, the nitty gritty.

By the time someone is aggressive, paranoid, incontinent or immobile, they are not in a position to give consent and it doesn't seem right to me that someone else should agree to them being filmed in such a condition. We often talk about upholding dignity, but broadcasting 'the truth' on national TV must surely mean the opposite.

The only feasible way would be in a drama, with an actor playing the role, but I'm not sure how you would weave that into any sort of storyline. It's hardly appropriate for a pre-watershed soap.
 
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stanleypj

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Dec 8, 2011
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North West
I agree about the consent issue Chemmy. But even having carers talk about the realities would help to give such programmes a little more balance.
 

supertrooper

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Jul 18, 2011
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Stanleypj - It would have been helpful to talk about the realities of Altzheimers/dementia. If pushed for time producers could have collated carers experiences and reported the facts.

I watched the film and felt on the outside. The programme was unnecessarily over-simplified and dull.
 

Chemmy

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Nov 7, 2011
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Yorkshire
Realistically, I wonder how many people would actually turn the TV on and watch something that bleak. I suspect it would be mainly those who already have some experience of the difficulties of being a hands on carer.

The closest I've seen was the BBC series Protecting our parents, shown in 2014. I watched it but no one else in the family did because they didn't feel it was relevant to them. And it did feature people who actually needed care. If it had just been the carers talking, it wouldn't have had anything like the same impact. TV is a visual medium.

Many people, my family included, seem to prefer to keep their heads firmly in the sand, even when the warning signs are starting to show.
 

Zana

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May 12, 2016
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I agree it was lightweight and very simple. It didnt tell us anything we didnt know although I suppose for someone who was without a clue it may have sparked a little interest.

It contrasted sharply with a lecture I went to a month ago given by a man who's partner developed FTD at 56 yrs old.
He explained how the insidious changes in his partners behaviour crept up on them and made him begin to doubt himself and that they only sat and talked about it after a massive row when he had packed his bag and said he wanted to end their 25 yr relationship.
Only then did the partner admit that he knew there was a problem but was scared.

He told how some people abandoned them, how his partner turned from an intelligent and high functioning professional into a 24/7 demanding childlike man who had no social skills or manners.

That was far more truthful than this programme.
 

stanleypj

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Dec 8, 2011
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North West
Kassy, about your last but one post, I don't think posting a picture of the person you care for on TP (which is not uncommon) is really in the same category as playing, on a TV network, video footage of a PWD behaving violently, attacking people who are trying to help them, being driven crazy by hallucinations etc. This simply wouldn't be allowed - rightly IMHO. But the programme could have carers explaining what it is like living with a PWD who behaves in this way. This would go some way to giving a more balanced picture of dementia.
 
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Sue J

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Dec 9, 2009
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I don't think I'll bother watching it having read the responses, I'll stick to Emmerdale where the portrayal of vascular dementia in one of the main characters is done very well in my view.

I most certainly wouldn't want to be on TV ranting and raving but I do want people to understand why I do.:)