A note from Louisa Hollely:

I am a partner at Shentons Solicitors and Mediators.  Every year the staff choose a charity to support.  This year I was so pleased that the vote was to support the Alzheimer’s Society.  The Alzheimer’s Society is a charity which is very close to my hear because my Dad has Alzheimer’s.

Before my Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s (9 years ago now), I did used to think, like many, that sufferers just become a bit forgetful, but are physically well.  This is not the case.    The disease also affects them physically.  Basically, the person with Alzheimer’s gradually reverts back to babyhood, unable to do anything for themselves.  They need help with eating, drinking, walking, cannot dress themselves and may be unable to speak.  Eventually they may need to be hoisted because they are unable to move themselves at all.  They may become unable to swallow.   

There is also a misconception that, because the disease affects memory,  sufferers are not aware of what is happening to them, and so are not affected by it.  In the early stages of the disease they can be aware that their memory is failing them and this can be an extremely frightening realization.  Later on in the progress of the disease, they can be terrified and anxious without always knowing why.  Sometimes they see things which are not there and this causes them distress.  Often the families are left to care for the person with dementia themselves.  This can mean an elderly spouse struggling alone to care for their wife/ husband. 

Fundraising is really important, not just for medical research, but also to provide services for those with dementia and their families to give them a better quality of life.  Fundraising goes towards such activities as Singing for the Brain (music can be the extremely therapeutic), Dementia Cafes, carer support groups, befriending services and Dementia Advisors.

Please sponsor Team Shentons on the Memory Walk so that we can help to raise funds to help those with Alzheimer’s and their families. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this.