poliphilo: (corinium)
poliphilo ([personal profile] poliphilo) wrote2013-02-09 10:23 am
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Dementia

He's well into his nineties. He was an officer on one of the British warships that sunk the Scharnhorst. Last time we spent time with him he was a quiet courtly gentleman and now there are only traces of that person left. He didn't know who we were. "I have a name in my mind- Canon W". Canon W was his grandfather. "My aunt was a famous woman but I can't remember her name. Who was she?" "I don't know, John." Hands to forehead. "Nobody tells me anything". He runs his carer ragged ( It was his carer we'd mainly come to see.) After a couple of hours he was bristling. "Are you all right, John?" "No, I'm not all right. I'm tired."
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[identity profile] cmcmck.livejournal.com 2013-02-09 12:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Such a horrible condition.

My hubby's old aunt suffered the same way.

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2013-02-09 02:09 pm (UTC)(link)
The human mind and personality are fragile things.

[identity profile] lblanchard.livejournal.com 2013-02-09 02:08 pm (UTC)(link)
It's exhausting, draining work.

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2013-02-09 02:10 pm (UTC)(link)
John's carer is 70 himself. He's having a gruelling time- and gets no thanks for it.
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