My mother has been in a Dementia specialised care home, since March. She is deteriorating, both physically and in terms of the Dementia. I feel very sad to see the deterioration and how others may see her now, compared to how she was prior to the onset of Dementia. I wrote this when I came home after visiting her last week.
“Hallo”, it’s me, I’m not what you see.
“Hallo”, it’s me, I’m not what you see.
I’m not what you used to see
Dementia’s got me
Dementia’s taken me.
I was a daughter, an employee, a volunteer
I taught typing, I had many friends, I loved exercising and socialising
My life way busy
I’ve been taken, kidnapped by Dementia, it’s got me and changed me.
I used to love clothes. My hair I spent hours over.
Now someone else dresses me
Those colours don’t go!
My appearance is very important to me, please brush my hair, I can’t go out like that!
I’m still a woman, I do still have my dignity.
I’m a mother, a wife, a grandmother, a home owner and member of our society.
Dementia’s swallowed me up and changed me.
I’m confused, where’s my mum? Is dad still alive? I need a new car, take me home.
You may see me as violent, rude, shouting, incontinent, confused.
That’s not me.
I’ve been kidnapped by Dementia.
I was proud
I was intelligent and funny
I was attractive.
Now all you see is Dementia, not me.
“Hallo”, it’s me, I’m not what you see.
“Hallo”, it’s me, I’m not what you see.
I’m not what you used to see
Dementia’s got me
Dementia’s taken me.
I was a daughter, an employee, a volunteer
I taught typing, I had many friends, I loved exercising and socialising
My life way busy
I’ve been taken, kidnapped by Dementia, it’s got me and changed me.
I used to love clothes. My hair I spent hours over.
Now someone else dresses me
Those colours don’t go!
My appearance is very important to me, please brush my hair, I can’t go out like that!
I’m still a woman, I do still have my dignity.
I’m a mother, a wife, a grandmother, a home owner and member of our society.
Dementia’s swallowed me up and changed me.
I’m confused, where’s my mum? Is dad still alive? I need a new car, take me home.
You may see me as violent, rude, shouting, incontinent, confused.
That’s not me.
I’ve been kidnapped by Dementia.
I was proud
I was intelligent and funny
I was attractive.
Now all you see is Dementia, not me.