Like many people these days I think electronic gadgets are wonderful, when I can use them and understand them. Many people with dementia use assistive technology, and there have been many discussions about the word tagging.
Many people feel angry when the term tagging is used, when it is to do with People with Dementia.
The reason being that tagging is used for tracking those who have offended in society,and many of us feel that we have done nothing wrong but get this horrible disease.
Surely it is time for those people who design these wonderful gadgets, to rename them so that we feel happier. It also gets those people from the Civil Liberties groups and some Social Workers off our backs, as many of them think it is offensive that we are given these gadgets, for our own safety and our carers Peace of mind.
Some time ago I was in a session at a workshop, when these gadgets were on display and we had a chance to look at them and see what they could do.
Shortly after two ladies came up and said, that it was against our Civil Liberties and I really could not believe it. These two just happened to be Social Workers, which made it seem worse than it was.
My answer to them was:-
I lost my civil liberties when I was given the diagnosis of dementia, and these gadgets allow me to carry on with my freedom while allowing my wife that extra but of time doing her own thing, without having to keep looking over her shoulder to see if I am alright.
Surely there is nothing wrong with that.
I also feel that it is our right to enjoy what is left of our lives with out this stupidity, from those who obviously do not have a clue about what dementia, is or how it makes us and our carers feel.
So please stop using the name tagging, and use Assistive Technology for all those with Dementia. You will help and please many with this illness.
Best Wishes
Ken
Many people feel angry when the term tagging is used, when it is to do with People with Dementia.
The reason being that tagging is used for tracking those who have offended in society,and many of us feel that we have done nothing wrong but get this horrible disease.
Surely it is time for those people who design these wonderful gadgets, to rename them so that we feel happier. It also gets those people from the Civil Liberties groups and some Social Workers off our backs, as many of them think it is offensive that we are given these gadgets, for our own safety and our carers Peace of mind.
Some time ago I was in a session at a workshop, when these gadgets were on display and we had a chance to look at them and see what they could do.
Shortly after two ladies came up and said, that it was against our Civil Liberties and I really could not believe it. These two just happened to be Social Workers, which made it seem worse than it was.
My answer to them was:-
I lost my civil liberties when I was given the diagnosis of dementia, and these gadgets allow me to carry on with my freedom while allowing my wife that extra but of time doing her own thing, without having to keep looking over her shoulder to see if I am alright.
Surely there is nothing wrong with that.
I also feel that it is our right to enjoy what is left of our lives with out this stupidity, from those who obviously do not have a clue about what dementia, is or how it makes us and our carers feel.
So please stop using the name tagging, and use Assistive Technology for all those with Dementia. You will help and please many with this illness.
Best Wishes
Ken