Love this photo of Mum (front right) taken in Nairobi game park with good friends. I’m just peeking into the shot from back right. We stopped off for a spot of lunch whilst keeping an eye out!
Given I didn’t live around the corner, I really did rely on so many wonderful people who kept a close eye on Mum for me over the last few years living in Devon.
Her neighbours were fantastic. Between all of them she had some form of company every day. Whenever she went out they would check to ensure she had returned home safely.
Whenever sales people came knocking the neighbours would intervene and send them packing.
The lawn got mowed and hedges cut back. They would pop in to keep her company and take her out for a walk. This was especially important towards the end of her time living independently because as her world shrunk her life literally reduced to staying at home where the furthest she would venture was to the doctor surgery and local shop. Other than this she managed to catch the bus at the end of her street to town where she went to church or popped into Marks and Spencers.
Church played a big part in Mum’s life. There were many in the church community who were incredibly kind. In particular, the priest Father Harry was wonderful. He always looked out for her and I can’t thank him enough for his support over the years. A true gentleman.
Her doctor was fantastic and made broaching the topic of Care Home living with Mum much easier for me. The carers from the care company I used in Devon were also great and became a nice source of company for Mum as she became too frightened to venture far from her home on her own towards the end.
There are so many people in society who really do care for others. An example and funny story was Christmas of 2012. We spent Christmas with our family friends. I had arranged for Mum to travel on the train from Devon to London. In the 11th hour Mum decided to travel to London a day earlier. Nothing I said could persuade her to stick to the original plan. She had got it into her head that due to potential flooding in the West Country she had to travel a day early. So I agreed to meet her at Paddington station. I arrived at Paddington early. Next thing and unexpectedly Mum materialised in front of me visibly relieved to see me. She had caught an earlier train so arrived earlier than we had agreed. She was worried I wasn’t coming to collect her. She had the good sense to speak to a guard at the station explaining she was waiting for her daughter. When I went over to thank the guard (a lovely Irish man) – also visibly relieved to see me – he joked ‘thank God you are here – I thought I was going to have to take your Mum home for Christmas with me!’ Bless him – he looked after Mum for 2 hours until I turned up!!
Living In The Moment With Dementia 