WHEN LOVED ONES BECOME STRANGERS
Here’s something that happens so very often but is not spoken about that much, and that’s when loved ones become strangers because of dementia. But i believe it should be, In wider circles, to help those left behind understand they are not on their own in this.
Imagine this? Being married to someone for 30/40/50 years +, and then one day they look straight through you as you would a stranger passing by and have absolutely no idea who you are? Or even worse they call you by someone else’s name and treat you like an acquaintance. All you have built together, all you have celebrated and lamented, all you every talked about, your hopes, your dreams, your memories you have shared together, all gone? Can we even begin to imagine how devastating that would be for the loved one left behind? And yet thousands of people go through this every year and mostly in private, to ashamed to tell others and thinking its only happening to them.
The saddest thing is, it’s not talked about enough, not shared on social media or spoken about in support meetings? Why not?? Please don’t get me wrong, there is a time and place for everything and I am not advocating inundate them with all the horrors that comes with dementia all at once, but I do believe I being prepared and along the road the family walk after a loved one has had a diagnosis this should be gently brought up and discussed as a possibility. I am a firm believer that somewhere, deep down is the same person and always will be, I have said so many times there isn’t a Dr on the planet that can tell what those with dementia are thinking, especially in later stages; don’t we sometimes wish we could? But not possible, but why they forget loved ones and close family is certainly a mystery, but the truth is it happens, and unless we drag the effects of this awful disease screaming and kicking into the 21st century and lay it bare for all to see, we will not be able to help others understand the complexities of this awful disease
Norrms
Founder of Purple Angel Dementia Campaign
Here’s something that happens so very often but is not spoken about that much, and that’s when loved ones become strangers because of dementia. But i believe it should be, In wider circles, to help those left behind understand they are not on their own in this.
Imagine this? Being married to someone for 30/40/50 years +, and then one day they look straight through you as you would a stranger passing by and have absolutely no idea who you are? Or even worse they call you by someone else’s name and treat you like an acquaintance. All you have built together, all you have celebrated and lamented, all you every talked about, your hopes, your dreams, your memories you have shared together, all gone? Can we even begin to imagine how devastating that would be for the loved one left behind? And yet thousands of people go through this every year and mostly in private, to ashamed to tell others and thinking its only happening to them.
The saddest thing is, it’s not talked about enough, not shared on social media or spoken about in support meetings? Why not?? Please don’t get me wrong, there is a time and place for everything and I am not advocating inundate them with all the horrors that comes with dementia all at once, but I do believe I being prepared and along the road the family walk after a loved one has had a diagnosis this should be gently brought up and discussed as a possibility. I am a firm believer that somewhere, deep down is the same person and always will be, I have said so many times there isn’t a Dr on the planet that can tell what those with dementia are thinking, especially in later stages; don’t we sometimes wish we could? But not possible, but why they forget loved ones and close family is certainly a mystery, but the truth is it happens, and unless we drag the effects of this awful disease screaming and kicking into the 21st century and lay it bare for all to see, we will not be able to help others understand the complexities of this awful disease
Norrms
Founder of Purple Angel Dementia Campaign