http://www.alzscot.org/

Alzheimer's and Dementia

We watched dad fight the good fight with his Dementia. From the start he was trying to hide things from us and himself but slowly we watched him struggle to understand and remember things he had known and was aware that he and known. It became more and more obvious and more and more difficult for him to deal with. Mum stepped in and held him up. He was always Dad, always kind and always a gentleman, for this we are really lucky.

I want to talk about all of the people who helped us...they are INCREDIBLE. Watching how everyone treated him with respect and dignity. How gentle they were with him, how kindly they spoke and softly they touched him when he needed guidance or reassurance.

Marney, Etta and Melissa from Carewatch

helped look after Dad and enabled him to be at home with Mum for as long as possible for which we will be forever grateful. They injected lots of love and good humor. they were amazing even popping in on days off. They became great friends of the family.

Victoria MacLeod from Alzheimer's Scotland

Victoria is one of the kindest and most gentle souls and was an invaluable emotional support for Mum, helping to navigate the waters and proving to be an endlessly knowledgeable resource. Victoria also organizes a helpgroup in Helensburgh which allowed us a place to talk to others who were going through the same things, we wish all of the people at the support group lots of love. Advocates for folks dealing with Alzheimer's and Dementia are so important. 

Helensburgh and Lomond Carers

provide care for the carers. Being a carer is one of the most difficult jobs and often goes unrecognized. Helensburgh and Lomond carers offers a drop in center,advises on support groups, helped us with grant applications and many other services ... thanks so much

Simon Richardson

introduced us to the concept of  Self-directed Support providing social care which aims to put the person and family in control of how the funding for their support 
gets spent. For Mum and Dad choices in care were very important as dads needs changed over time. Being active in the decision making process is paramount.

the Oasis center

Dad got so much from going to the Oasis center. It was really important for him to go and engage with people outside of the family. Mum watched dad one day without him knowing that she was at the Center and was amazed to see how engaged he was with the people in his group. We asked the staff how they managed to get him to participate when we had so many problems motivating him, they mentioned if they asked him to help other people that was his big motivator, his predisposition to make sure everyone else was ok still shone through. The folks at oasis helped him both physically and mentally his care was very personalized, the staff knew all of the things he was interested in and what would keep him involved. The Oasis also allowed my Mum to take a much needed break from being Dads primary carer.

Clydeview Nursing Home

Dad was able to be at home with mum up until the last couple of months of his life. It was really difficult for us to give up caring for Dad. We were worried that nobody would be able to care for him or love him as much as we did. We cannot speak highly enough about the Clydeview nursing home. When the time came the staff at Clydeview did absolutely everything in their power to make Dad comfortable and ease our anxieties.  Early on in his stay he thought he was in a hotel "this is quite a lovely hotel" he said to mum. We loved the way they talked to him and reassured him. The nursing staff would always talk to dad first never talk over him or about him, they we so patient caring and gentle. They were happy for us to turn up whenever we wanted always giving us updates on how his day had been. When he wasn't really eating they would try all of his favorite foods to see if there was anything that would tempt him. They let us play music to Dad and sing to him, our singing he did not find soothing by the way :). They teamed up with the Mcmillan nurse to ensure that Dad was not in pain, if there was even the tiniest indication that he was uncomfortable they quickly responded. They knew all of the things that meant a lot to Dad, even down to small details that might not seem that important but are (how he liked to be shaved for example). All of the folks at Clydeview worked unbelievably hard to keep Dad comfortable, which he was right up until the end.