DEMENTIA BE GRATEFUL FOR THE MEMORY THAT YOU HAVE LEFT

It is so easy for we dementia people to lapse into sadness or even despair about the memory that we have lost. It is of course perfectly normal to feel unhappy about our situation and very easy to slip ito depression. This must be challenged and overcome by thinking about the positives in our lives. Rather than being sad about the memory lost we must be grateful for the memory that is left. Even if memory erosion is steadily advancing, in fact there may be many, many years ahead where you will still be able to function in a very normal way. If you can still read for example you still have one of life's greatest joys. Frankly, if the day comes when that ability passes the memory loss will be so advanced that we will not be conscious about the loss. Truly, we must thank God every day for our blessings. Even on the bleakest day there will be something to be grateful for. Personally, I have many things to be grateful for, but I am particularly conscious that so far my dementia has not manifested into Alzheimer's. At age 72 I have done most of the things that I wanted to. There are a few things on my 'bucket list', such as visiting the pyramids and crossing the United States in a classic car like that great Scottish comedian, [ forget his name.' Anyway, life goes on here in South Africa. After a rather cold night the sun has come out and we have a wonderful sunny day. Bobby the parrot and all three dogs are soaking up the son, whilst I write with my Wendy House door open. We will probably be able to have lunch on my little balcony with views of the Drakenstein Mountains. A good week for memory etc. I think that the coco nut oil is helping. The strange thing with both memory and cognitive abilities is that the difficulties are rather like a tide that goes in and out. Some days there appears to be a loss and then the next most of it comes back. So I still enjoy every day! David Barnato. Paarl. South Africa