Hello everyone,

I was 14 years old when I had my first encounter with someone with Dementia. Being so young at the time, I never fully understood what it was, and learnt more about it through experiencing it with my Grandmother, who was 89 at the time. My Grandmother had Vascular Dementia, the second most common form of Dementia alongside Alzheimer's. It was a hard four years, we lost my Grandfather, and this immensely triggered her deterioration rapidly. It started off with her forgetting basic things like where she put an item or where she had left a pen, the general objects you tend to forget at any age. But in due course, she started "seeing" people that weren't there to us, but very real for her. She had a brother, Patrick, who passed away several years before, but also had a son (my Father) named Patrick also. I remember going around to her house on a Saturday morning like we always used to, my brother, my sister, my Dad and myself, and just remember her saying "what's your name? Patrick was here a moment ago" to my Dad. My Dad who was often quite distressed by this at most times would always say "no Mum, I am Patrick, your son. Patrick who you are referring to was your brother". At 14 years old, seeing this, and having to calm my own Father, as well as witness my brother and sister see this and feel quite uncomfortable proved to be quite an emotional challenge.
Every other Sunday when we stayed with my Father for the weekend, my Grandmother would come and have lunch with us. Us children would sit her down, talk to her, engage her in our activities and allow her to pick a film to watch. It was strange, as every Sunday, bearing in mind her Dementia was advancing rapidly, she would always remember the film "Harry Potter" the film with the wizard. She would sit through the two-hour film intreived in the film, and be able to recall it at the end and request for it to be played again. Understanding now that Dementia affects the short term memory, which counters for why people with Dementia recalling moments from their past to this day I am still unable to pinpoint how she remembered it every time she watched it.
Over time, she deteriorated more, so much that she wasn't safe in her own home anymore. We used to find her wondering the street very confused as to where she was and what was going on. She was taken into a home and fully looked after with professional care staff.
In the final moments of her life, my Father and I went to see her on the day of her 90th birthday. She seemed very confused and was slowing down. But at one particular moment before we left, she seemed to have returned to her old self. That last final spark of her glorious personality shining through. Sadly she passed away three days later.
My Grandmother inspired me through caring for her whilst she was living with Dementia. She's my inspiration for what I do today, and where I want to be in the future. She inspired me to take on a nursing degree to be able to fully help people, like herself and support those with Dementia and their surrounding families. No one should feel alone when dealing with Dementia, there is always support out there.