Recipient Story: Alzheimers

When David was diagnosed with Early Onset Dementia we were living in Wellington. The specialist had asked to speak to me privately, and matter of factly told me that there was no cure and that I needed to make sure our affairs were in order. I was stunned and left his office feeling as if my world had just turned upside down and I was all alone.

I quickly found out that family and friends while empathetic did not want to hear about dementia as it made them feel uncomfortable and as to support, well, they wanted me to tell them what to do, but how could I do that, when I didn’t know myself?

For around 18 months we muddled along. David left work and we moved to Timaru to be closer to our daughter. The first thing I did was make an appointment to see a new doctor and I am so thankful that I did. He offered to contact the Alzheimers Society on our behalf and arrange for someone to contact us.

"When Rosie sat in my kitchen introducing herself and telling us how the Alzheimers Society could help and support us, I could have cried. " - Raewyn

Here was someone who knew what our journey might look like. Rosie gave me information on what services were available, and has made a point of ringing me on a regular basis to make sure as a carer I’m looking after myself - something I didn’t know how to do because for so long it had always been about David and his illness.

I was encouraged to attend the carers group course the Alzheimers Society run, and for the first time got to meet other people going through similar journeys to mine. I listened to guest speakers who offered so much information that I’d never heard before.

When Rosie first met me, I’d just been diagnosed with depression and felt totally overwhelmed. Today thanks to the support I am receiving from the Alzheimers Society, I am well again and feel better able to cope with this horrible beast dementia that’s forced its way into my life.

This journey is a marathon and I know there will be times I stumble but I don’t feel that I’m alone anymore. Rosie in particular from Alzheimers South Canterbury has kept me sane and gives me so many tips and tricks on things that I can change or do to make living with dementia bearable. I can't thank her enough.

How the Aoraki Foundation helped:

Alzheimers South Canterbury received a grant of $8,500 from the South Canterbury Health Endowment Fund to support salaries of staff like Rosie.