We went along for our second visit to the local drop in cafe run by the Alzheimer's Society today.
My husband was whisked off to play cards and other activities with a nice group of people (he really enjoyed himself) and I was made to feel very much at home by the various group leaders and supporters there.
I ended up chatting with a lovely lady and her daughter, who were visiting the cafe for the first time. They were understandably somewhat bewildered by the recent diagnosis of the husband/dad with Alzheimers Disease. I know I have very little experience of things myself in comparison to so many on here, but I was surprised to hear myself repeating the handy tips and ideas I have learnt on the Talking Point forum as they raised some questions - and it was lovely to see that the advice from Talking Point was able to give them some pointers.
They were interested to learn about Talking Point and felt it might be something to look into themselves.
The other positive thing that came out of today was that my husband has now been given a place in the branch's small group for people with early onset dementia. This is just what we'd been hoping for - it will do my husband a lot of good to be with people around his own age.
Don't get me wrong, my husband mixes well with folk of all ages and always has done so. However, I think it will help him a lot to be with people who have been diagnosed with dementia at an early age just like him.
The great thing is that he will be picked up by minibus and delivered home again afterwards, so he doesn't need to worry about buses or taking the wrong turning etc.
That's a huge relief to me. My husband does currently know the route but gets thrown easily if things don't go smoothly. For example our bus broke down on the way home today after the meeting and we had to collect tickets from the driver to travel on the bus following up behind us. I could tell by my husband's face that he didn't have the foggiest idea what was happening and would have been quite at a loss as to what to do if I had not been there - and would probably have ended up paying his fare twice for the same journey.
The other nice thing is that my husband will also be given lunch with the group - he is always happy when food is involved
It sounds like the members of the group have a great laugh and enjoy lots of different activities. The organisers seem to be a lovely bunch too.
There are places for just nine people in the group, so we feel very lucky that an opening has been found for my husband after a quite a short wait. I have to say my husband has been beaming from ear to ear since being told he has a place and we feel blessed to have this kind of group close to us
My husband was whisked off to play cards and other activities with a nice group of people (he really enjoyed himself) and I was made to feel very much at home by the various group leaders and supporters there.
I ended up chatting with a lovely lady and her daughter, who were visiting the cafe for the first time. They were understandably somewhat bewildered by the recent diagnosis of the husband/dad with Alzheimers Disease. I know I have very little experience of things myself in comparison to so many on here, but I was surprised to hear myself repeating the handy tips and ideas I have learnt on the Talking Point forum as they raised some questions - and it was lovely to see that the advice from Talking Point was able to give them some pointers.
They were interested to learn about Talking Point and felt it might be something to look into themselves.
The other positive thing that came out of today was that my husband has now been given a place in the branch's small group for people with early onset dementia. This is just what we'd been hoping for - it will do my husband a lot of good to be with people around his own age.
Don't get me wrong, my husband mixes well with folk of all ages and always has done so. However, I think it will help him a lot to be with people who have been diagnosed with dementia at an early age just like him.
The great thing is that he will be picked up by minibus and delivered home again afterwards, so he doesn't need to worry about buses or taking the wrong turning etc.
That's a huge relief to me. My husband does currently know the route but gets thrown easily if things don't go smoothly. For example our bus broke down on the way home today after the meeting and we had to collect tickets from the driver to travel on the bus following up behind us. I could tell by my husband's face that he didn't have the foggiest idea what was happening and would have been quite at a loss as to what to do if I had not been there - and would probably have ended up paying his fare twice for the same journey.
The other nice thing is that my husband will also be given lunch with the group - he is always happy when food is involved
It sounds like the members of the group have a great laugh and enjoy lots of different activities. The organisers seem to be a lovely bunch too.
There are places for just nine people in the group, so we feel very lucky that an opening has been found for my husband after a quite a short wait. I have to say my husband has been beaming from ear to ear since being told he has a place and we feel blessed to have this kind of group close to us
