5 years ago my larger than life Dad started behaving oddly. He was becoming more forgetful and was showing signs of self neglect. Due to being a drinker people just thought of its “just John”. During this time he also began having some vacant episodes and fainting episodes. I made him visit the doctors to get checked over. They carried out blood tests snd ECGs and listened to my concerns around his behaviours and self neglect. They told us they would send a referral to the memory clinic. Fast forward a few months and COVID hit, lockdown was announced. As lockdown continued I visited Dad regularly as his change in routine really highlighted just how unwell he was. He was unable to wash or change his clothes, he could no longer cook food and he was developing strange routines such as visiting Iceland everyday and buying tins of beans which he couldn’t remember how to open so never ate. During this time I started helping him with all his personal hygiene, a task even as a qualified nurse I found hard. I would cook for him, clean for him, do all his shopping and basically make sure he was surviving. The relationship between a Dad and his daughter quickly changes when you become his full time carer. During this time I was also trying to get him seen by a doctor and find out where he was on the waiting list for the memory clinic as we were now 9 months on from first being seen. Finally after being failed in numerous ways by the GP my Dad was assessed, the nurse who assessed him said that he got the lowest score he had seen for a person his age. My Dad was 63 years old when he was diagnosed with Vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. For the next 3 years I battled to get him the support and help he required. He AGAIN was failed by care company’s who just saw his age and the fact he drank so neglected his needs. He was labelled as an “Alcoholic” and his illness was overlooked. This finally came to a head on 4/11/22 when my Dad went into a psychosis which resulted in him losing his home and being admitted to hospital. He was then placed into a care home who again failed him due to his age and his complex needs. He again experienced hallucinations and psychosis and was sectioned into a mental health unit. Finally my Dad was treated with the care and respect he required and deserved. He was started on correct medications and he was truly loved by the staff. During this time he deteriorated and at points was placed on palliative care, this was devastating for our family as he was only 65, no age at all. Thankfully my Dad has 9 lives and he bounced back, he is now living out his final years in a wonderful care home where he is looked after wonderfully. 

Mine and my families story is far more complex than the snippet I’ve just told and I know we are not the only family who have been devastated by this illness. I am trekking 26 miles to raise money to hopefully help eradicate this disease. I know that’s a big wish but I truly hope one day that can happen in the meantime if the money I raise can help one family not experience the negative things we have I would have achieved more than I could hope for. 

Please donate even just a pound will help ❤️