Last year my father was "officially" diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia...It all started four years ago when he retired at 61...He was a very active man, ambitious and hard-working...When he retired, he obviously slowed down and we all thought it was due to his retirement and a little bit of depression, that he needed time to adjust to his new life but things never improved and my mother started a long string of tests, scans, memory tests...We eventually found out his illness last July but unfortunately in a year he deteriorated severely, spending his day eating, showing inappropriate behaviours...It really put us all to the test 
My mother tried her best and cared for him for as long as she could but last week we all decided that he was safer in a care home...It was the worst day of my life, I feel cheated that I am losing my father so soon...
I am French and all my family is in France (I live in Kent) so I am trying my best to give all the support they need but I feel so guilty and helpless at times. I have two young children and had to explain with simple words to my seven year old that her "papy" had a poorly head...
I have also reduced my working days to be able to go to France as often as I can but also to spend time with my children and husband...This horrible disease made me reassess my own lifestyle...
I was very much like my father always working so I realise what my priorities were and there are certainly not work anymore...
Marie x x x
My mother tried her best and cared for him for as long as she could but last week we all decided that he was safer in a care home...It was the worst day of my life, I feel cheated that I am losing my father so soon...
I am French and all my family is in France (I live in Kent) so I am trying my best to give all the support they need but I feel so guilty and helpless at times. I have two young children and had to explain with simple words to my seven year old that her "papy" had a poorly head...
I have also reduced my working days to be able to go to France as often as I can but also to spend time with my children and husband...This horrible disease made me reassess my own lifestyle...
I was very much like my father always working so I realise what my priorities were and there are certainly not work anymore...
Marie x x x
