DEMENTIA HOW MUCH HELP DO YOU NEED?

It is very difficult for a caregiver to know how much to do for their loved one and if it helps the patient to do plenty of things themseles. The answer, like so many things in life lays in the middle, roughly in a state of ballance. Although it is essential to encourage we dementia people to do as much for ourselves as we possibly can, it is important to keep a watchful eye. In my own case for example I take my own tablets for my various ailments morning and evening, but occassionally I forget, so it is a comforting thought that Julian keeps an eye on this. Because of the success of using coconut oil I never forget to add a big spoon to my porridge in the morning whilst cooking, or to spread on toast in place of butter if I'm, taking some marmalade. There is no doubt of course that we should tax our brains as much as possible to keep them functioning for as long as possible. Cognitive difficulties I find are selective. My writing proceeds pretty much as before, apart from the odd word search, but my ability to deal with problems on the internet is decreasing.The speed of the deterioration is very slow, but I find it too tiring to worry about the technicalities and endless advances of the internet. The same lack of eveness is true of memory I find. My actual long term memory is getting sharper and memories of childhood seventy years ago are getting clearwe. On the other hand I do forget the oddest things. The other day I took an hour long trip to Capetown. I parked my car where I often do near the castle. However, when I switched the engine off I couldn't remember what I had to do. I struggled for a while racking my brains without success. Then I called my 'lifeline, but unfortunately her phone was off. It was when I went for a coffee an hour later that I suddenly remembered that I had to collect some dress material for Julian from Fabric City. What a releif it was when I had carried out my chore and walked happily back towards the car. Trouble was I couldn't remember exactly which section of the car park it was and eventually after another hour I remembered that actually I had parked it in the space at the back of the shop. Alls well that ends well! We are in the last weeks of winter here, but we have had wonderful weather with no need for a fire in the evening. Yesterday morning we even ate breakfast in the garden. Bobby dosn't like a new brand of sun flower seeds that we bought him and keeps turning his food bowl upside down in rage. Still it's only human isn't it. David Barnato. Paarl. South Africa.