Talking Point is described as follows on its home page http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/talkingpoint/site/index.php
Where different dementias produce differences in development, behaviours, symptoms and timing, related threads are opened up in the main forum.
There are some areas where specific issues may be particular to a group of members - currently, three come to mind:
LGBT people living with dementia face much more than the prejudice that they may have faced all their lives. If you are confronted with professionals, families, others (or even the law) who do not recognise the relationship you have then your position as a carer (or someone with dementia) is completely different from others.
There may be no other group of people who may be find themselves in this situation.
There have been existing TP members who were fostered or who have had complicated family arrangements, but not that many people have had their position as carer (or next of kin - although that has no legal meaning) challenged. For gay couples that does happen.
Obviously there are other issues for the person with dementia if their sexuality is denied by people around them.
As with the LGBT area on the Alzheimer's Society website, the LGBT part of Talking Point will not be exclusive – anyone will be able to visit it and, being a forum, anyone will be able to post on it. Similarly, just because someone identifies as being lesbian, gay or whatever, it doesn’t mean they have to confine their posts to the LGBT forum, in fact the strength of the Talking Point forum as a whole would be lessened for them, and other members, if they did so.
We already have long standing members of TP who belong to this group and whose contributions have been helpful to many of us.
The Alzheimer’s Society LGBT Carers Group is unique and continues to support people who would probably not have thought the Society had anything to offer them if it were not for the existence of the Group.
We hope that we can rely upon the support of everyone concerned in giving this new forum the chance to succeed.
Very many of the issues that are brought forward on the forums are issues that all people face who have a loved one who has dementia.
Where different dementias produce differences in development, behaviours, symptoms and timing, related threads are opened up in the main forum.
There are some areas where specific issues may be particular to a group of members - currently, three come to mind:
- I have memory problems http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/talkingpoint/discuss/forumdisplay.php?f=26
- Younger people with dementia http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/talkingpoint/discuss/forumdisplay.php?f=27
- After dementia - dealing with loss http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/talkingpoint/discuss/forumdisplay.php?f=28
LGBT people living with dementia face much more than the prejudice that they may have faced all their lives. If you are confronted with professionals, families, others (or even the law) who do not recognise the relationship you have then your position as a carer (or someone with dementia) is completely different from others.
There may be no other group of people who may be find themselves in this situation.
There have been existing TP members who were fostered or who have had complicated family arrangements, but not that many people have had their position as carer (or next of kin - although that has no legal meaning) challenged. For gay couples that does happen.
Obviously there are other issues for the person with dementia if their sexuality is denied by people around them.
As with the LGBT area on the Alzheimer's Society website, the LGBT part of Talking Point will not be exclusive – anyone will be able to visit it and, being a forum, anyone will be able to post on it. Similarly, just because someone identifies as being lesbian, gay or whatever, it doesn’t mean they have to confine their posts to the LGBT forum, in fact the strength of the Talking Point forum as a whole would be lessened for them, and other members, if they did so.
We already have long standing members of TP who belong to this group and whose contributions have been helpful to many of us.
The Alzheimer’s Society LGBT Carers Group is unique and continues to support people who would probably not have thought the Society had anything to offer them if it were not for the existence of the Group.
We hope that we can rely upon the support of everyone concerned in giving this new forum the chance to succeed.
