Irish Farmers Journal Country Living*
Saturday, 6 February 2016
Page:
20,21
HEALTH
‘Here I was
at 62 and
the world
had just
closed in’
Margaret Hawkins talks to Sligo
woman Helen Rochford Brennan about
being diagnosed with early onset
dementia. She also looks at the stages
of illness and the supports available
[email protected]
Rochford Brennan from
Tubbercurry, Co Sligo,was
always busy. She had worked at
senior executive management
level abroad for many years
and in the tourism and disability sectors
here after that. She was chair of a
state agency when she was diagnosed
with dementia in 2012.
"Prior to diagnosis, I experienced
slow thinking and had difficulty retaining
information,” she says.
She can still remember occasions
at meetings when the words she
needed just wouldn’t come out.
"It’s very difficult. Youcan see
people looking at you and you are
desperately trying to focus on the next
sentence. 1was also forgetting things
my husband or son had told me which
was frustrating for them and for me.
Nothing was simple anymore. Everything
was worrying.”
Helen spent many sleepless nights
thinking about what was wrong with
her and retired early because she was
feeling so sluggish.
"I still wanted to contribute to
society so I thought I’d sit on committees.
I was hoping I’d get some
clear thinking to return, but nothing
changed. The days were endless.”
Helen was then referred to a specialist
by her GR
Helen
THE
ALZHEIMER
SOCIETY
OFIRELAND
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is
the leading provider of dementiaspecific
services in Ireland.
Their national helpline number
is 1800-341 -341. Open Mon-Fri
IOam to 5pm and Sat 10am to 4
pm. Email [email protected].
Visit their YouTube channel
at https://www.youtube.com/
user/Alzheimerl reland
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»Information
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“I went through a lot of neuro-psychological
human rights and then all of a sudden
testing. I thought the tests
my own basic rights were not being
looked easy but then I realised I wasn't met. I want to help bring dementia
DEMENTIA
- STAGES
AND
PROGRESSION
able to remember or repeat sentences
out of the shadows, get people talking
Each person’s experience with dementia
five minutes later.”
about it, even younger people.
is unique to them so how the
“I was 62 when I was diagnosed
disease will progress varies with each
but there are people in Ireland in their
DIAGNOSIS
SOON
FOLLOWED.
person. There is no way to say exactly
“Dementia. The word alone- the
40s and 50s, mums and dads being
how that will happen. The information
image of it, it was too much to bear. I
diagnosed, people, who have a young
below is only a guide.
don’t remember telling my husband
family the sole breadwinner in many
and son but I remember the pain of
cases. So, it’s important that we get
EARLY
STAGE
that conversation. Back then there was people talking and that those with dementia
• Forget things easily, repeat things.
nowhere to turn, no general supports.
really do get what’s required to
• Stuck for words or losing track of a
Here I was at 62 and the world had just live a fulfilled life in the community.”
conversation.
closed in.”
48,000 people in Ireland are living
• Find new situations/places confusing.
with dementia now and 63% of those
live in their communities. Approximately • Unwilling to try new things.
UKE
BEING
INABUCK
TUNNEL
4,000 are under the age of 65.
Helen describes that post-diagnosis
• Poor judgement and difficult to make
period as like being in a black tunnel.
“Weneed to have proper supports
decisions.
“It was the darkest period of unbelievable
to live at home. We need access to
• Lose interest in people or activities.
dementia advisers. The Alzheimer
grief that one could imagine,”
• Experience low mood, may become
she says, “a time when I isolated
Society of Ireland has got advisers but
anxious or withdravyn.
myself.”
not in every county. They are needed
• Feel frustrated or angry.
Eventually she availed of die
in every area.
support of the Alzheimer Society of
“Such services didn’t exist when I
was diagnosed and to be honest there
Ireland where she was advised to tell
MIDDLE
STAGE
• Find conversations, TV or reading
people of her illness. She stepped
would have been so much less pain in
down from all the committees she was my life if there had been. ’’
difficult or confusing.
on following diagnosis.
• Find bathing and dressing difficult or
“There was a great expression of
IFWE
HAD
CANCER
ITWOULD
confusing.
sadness from everyone. They looked
BESODIFFERENT
• Get lost easily, even in familiar
at it as I did, as an illness for an older
“Ifwe had cancer it would be so different. places.
person. How could it happen to someone
We would have all sorts of supports
• Need reminders to eat, drink and
but because we have an illness
younger?"
take medication.
Helen then got involved in research that is described as the new cancer
• Forget recent events completely.
into cognitive rehabilitation. Cognidve there are no supports. We need to be
rehabilitation taught Helen skills like
supported as much as possible to stay • Find meal preparation and managing
keeping a diary and a whiteboard to
at home for as long as possible.
money very difficult.
“Dementia is the most serious
manage her day.
• Believe things are real even when
“I constantly took notes (and
health challenge facing Ireland. We
they are not.
still do) and tried to create a new life
need ring-fenced funding for it. At
• Feel restless or agitated.
present, the funding is centred on
beyond dementia. I started walking
• Confuse time and experience difficulties
again and tried to set up a routine in
nursing homes. When you have contributed
with sleeping.
my day where before all I could see
and paid your taxes and feel
was doom and gloom. Over time I
frustrated by the lack of supports you
LATER
STAGE
learned to handle the illness better
get very exasperated and that impairs
• Have difficulty recognising people
and not let it define me as a person.”
your memory.
although there may be flashes of
“Right now, 48,000 are living with
dementia. That number, by the end of
OUTRAGED
BYLACK
OFSUPPORT
recognition.
Three years ago, Helen didn't want to
the next government in 2021, will be
• Gradual loss of speech.
leave the house. Now she travels all
increased by 40%.”
• Difficulty eating and swallowing.
over Europe with assistance and is an
• Experience incontinence.
advocate for those with dementia.
DRIVING
AND
DEMENTIA
• Appear restless and seem to be
"I think of Mother Teresa and of
Helen would like to make this point
looking for something or someone.
how my life has changed _nowand
about dementia and driving: “People
the advocacy work I do. She said: 'I
think those with dementia shouldn't
can’t change the world but I can cast
be driving. I have to do a driving
SERVICES
AVAILABLE
a stone across the waters to create
assessment every year. I think it’s
Samantha Taylor, information manager
many ripples.’ I want to create ripples, important that general public know
with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland:
fight for better services for those with
that, that we are assessed. If you are
“If someone has received a diagnosis,
dementia.”
assessed and you pass, you can drive.
the most important thing to do is to
Helen was outraged by the lack of
Being able to drive allows you to get
try and find out as much as possible
support for those with the illness.
out and have a better quality of life.”
about the dementia they have and
CL
"Allmy life I’vebeen fighting for
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Irish Farmers Journal Country Living*
Saturday, 6 February 2016
Page:
20,21
how it is affecting them. That will help
them identify the supports and services
they need. Sometimes the supports will
be very practical things like memory aids
or technology or thinking about how
they use exercise and eating well to help
maximise their energy and live well dayto-day.
Anyone with concerns should
contact our free and confidential helpline
to get more information. We also have
a dementia adviser service where we
arrange for someone to meet with you
and talk through what’s happening and
what’s available in your area.”
COGS
CLUBS-NEW
SERVICE
A new service, designed to help people
newly diagnosed with dementia, will
be piloted by The Alzheimer Society of
Ireland in Galway from 8 February.
Cogs Clubs are weekly sessions for
people with mild to moderate dementia.
Providing five hours of social activity
and friendship through a combination of
cognitive stimulation, music, reminiscence
and orientation.
It will run every
Monday from I Oam to 3pm in Knocknacarra,
Galway. Cost is € 15. For more
information,
contact 086-7809-615
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