Hi the problem with mentioning dementia after watching the film people would hear the word dementia and think it means senile dementia that’s where the stigma comes in when in fact we can have dementia and still be 90% active in many things and live for years, so I’m glad dementia isn’t mentioned.
Am I the only person who doesn't understand this quote? (dementia/senile dementia, don't get the distinction)
I'll be honest although my mam was ill for years I often hesitated when describing what was wrong with her, what are the right terms? I think a lot of people, even those who have relations with dementia lump Alzheimers and other forms of dementia together or use them interchangably. Or maybe it's just me..
On Thatcher I'll be honest I thought they were tiptoeing around the word dementia, understandable when she was alive, but less so when she's dead. I didn't see much of a mention of it anywhere really - so thanks for the links - her son spoke of her "illness", others coyly of memory loss. Obviously she was much more than her end, and I might be wrong, but I think she had dementia for 15 years? Which is a big chunk of anyone's life.
Everyone is different and we didn't tell anyone till near the end partly because we are very private but also because we were worried her few friends might abandon her if they knew. I've seen it happen, even my mum did it (oh they've got dementia, there's no point in seeing them).
I've drifted a bit away from Thatcher but stigma and lack of understanding obviously very much with us.