A TRUE STORY ABOUT DEMENTIA

An old lady still drove her car, but with increasing difficulty. One day she called 999. " Send a policeman quickly, they've stolen my stereo, the steering wheel, even the brake pedal and accelerator." The young lady handling the call was quite worried about the old lady, so she kept in contact with the police who attended. "How's things going?" She said. The policeman laughed. "The old dear got into the back of the car instead of the front!" There's always humour in everything, but when a victim of dementia is told the bad news it's quite a shock. You feel that your world is disappearing around you and the possibility of dementia turning into alzhemers is very worrying. As you reflect on all the possibilities you wonder who will look after you if the worst happens and dementia turns into alzheimers. There is also a feeling of shame and failure. However the truth is that we will all age, even the bright young things now running the world. We were all young once and the young are immortal, or so we all thought. To come to terms with the situation does not mean giving in. The challenge is to control the dementia and loss of memory by writing things down. By exercising both the body and the brain. Become more active, read and write e mails to friends. And of course be on a good diet, little fat,not too much meat or too many eggs. Lots of fruit and veg, not too much alcohol and of course no smoking! In my own case I am on medication from my doctor and I have introduced macademia nuts and coconut oil into my diet. I think that there is a little improvement in memory and I am certain that there has been no deterioration this week. Today it is a beautiful day in the Western Cape, sunny and not too hot. In fact it's not hot enough to go swimming with Boysie. Poor lad, he'll be very disappointed. Bobby is silent as usual. Who ever heard of a parrot that wont talk! Julian has taken a short break with an old friend in Cape Town, but fortunately I don't t have to fend for myself as Julian's daughter Ing is here.She is a marvellous cook, so I wont starve. Keep fighting the memory loss and dementia and keep cheerful to beat alzheimers. That's what I intend to do. Keep taking the tablets! David.