Last week’s letter from Mrs Dodimead struck a chord.
My family in Kent have cared for a dementia patient for several years coping with severe incontinence and memory loss without any help.
At last a diagnosis tells them the patient has both Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia so there will be some official interest, maybe some help forthcoming.
Too long carers have borne the stress of such a relentless scourge and many collapse under the strain.
I knew two carers who died as a direct result of looking after a relative at home.
They had no help and no-one to turn to for support or advice.
This fuelled the determination to set up a carers’ group in Holbeach called Here-4-U and later another group: Long Sutton Outreach. Both are run entirely by volunteers.
Littlebury Medical Centre was very supportive in Holbeach.
Doctors are required to support such groups as they relieve the stress on surgeries; unfortunately practice managers don’t always realise the importance to patients of sharing problems. Socialising is vital for mental health.
Dementia care can be very isolating.
Sir John Hayes has stated his intention of improving dementia care. It must be hoped this will happen.
Joan Woolard
Fleet
