Rural dementia – we need to talk

[llamedos]

Living in the countryside is not necessarily all as wonderful as we image and recent research into dementia in farming and rural communities has identified real problems.

Research carried out by Plymouth University into the experience of dementia in farming and farming families, and its impact on their businesses and home lives, has identified four areas of concern which need to be addressed if dementia in the countryside is to be managed. It is the first time that research has addressed this issue in farming.

The year-long study was undertaken by Dr Claire Kelly and Dr Richard Yarwood from the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at Plymouth University with support from Ian Sherriff, Academic Partnership Lead for Dementia at the University and Chair of the Prime Minister’s Rural Dementia Friendly Task and Finish Group.

It was funded by the Seale Hayne Educational Trust with support from the Farming Community Network.

Full Article & Source http://www.maturetimes.co.uk/rural-dementia/




If you need to talk.

 

[Gong Farmer]

Rural? With the latest news about urban dementia (for those living near busy roads). Is no-one safe?

 

[llamedos]

Rural? With the latest news about urban dementia (for those living near busy roads). Is no-one safe?

No one is immune for dementia, it shows no boundaries.

But as highlighted in the article, folk from Rural communities are less likely to have someone to speak with about their concerns, given their stoic nature.
A farm environment adds to the danger, as does when an older member of the family is suffering and still has overall control of livestock, not just the danger of working with them, but the care of them too.

As with mental heath problems, people need to realise, it is good to talk, we need to talk.

 

[Pasty]

It's bloody difficult. My mum passed away peacefully from this disease just before Xmas so you get to know the signs. Working out in the fields with Dad, where he loves to be is a serious challenge. He will insist on walking under that falling tree. It's like having a toddler around to be honest which is an awful thing to say. So how do you tell someone who has worked all their life and served the community in many, many ways that they are not up to the job any more. It's very tough and pretty depressing.

 

[rose pilchett]

One of my parents has got mild dementia that has got worse slowly over the past 7 years
This is the business control freak parent
It is only really obvious to family members who know them best, to other community outsiders it just looks like odd or eccentric behaviour
My partner and I cannot leave our young children in their care (farms are dangerous enough places), 2 years ago that parent left our then 2 year old in the farm house unattended while going about their busy body ways elsewhere on the farm, this at a time of year where large machines flying about past the farmhouse all day long
Some of the missed deadlines (over 6 months late in paying rent for some land wtf!) etc are scary but it's those little pieces of the jigsaw that alert others to a problem
Sad for the business that this person still insists on being in control but on a bigger picture worrying for others safety

 

[Pasty]

One of my parents has got mild dementia that has got worse slowly over the past 7 years
This is the business control freak parent
It is only really obvious to family members who know them best, to other community outsiders it just looks like odd or eccentric behaviour
My partner and I cannot leave our young children in their care (farms are dangerous enough places), 2 years ago that parent left our then 2 year old in the farm house unattended while going about their busy body ways elsewhere on the farm, this at a time of year where large machines flying about past the farmhouse all day long
Some of the missed deadlines (over 6 months late in paying rent for some land wtf!) etc are scary but it's those little pieces of the jigsaw that alert others to a problem
Sad for the business that this person still insists on being in control but on a bigger picture worrying for others safety

Got that T shirt.

 

[Yale]

Our next door neighbour had dementia in her later years.

At the time I frequently returned her to the house where she had wandered from,her son would be at work balancing his mother and career.

It came to the point my wife and I were finding her on the side of our lane,confused with odd shoes and her sons fleece,once stuck in a roadside culvert.

On one occasion I had to drop tools after her son rang to say the message from her emergency button was the house was on fire.

Indeed it was so I ended up extinguishing a fire in the log basket and television in the front room.

Sadly as she became less mobile her freedom was taken and the slow loss of function finally weakened her and she was taken.

What I learned was this is a cruel condition which touches everyone involved.It can also be a silent burden which lies heavily on the shoulders of family members removing their freedom also.

 

[Old Boar]

My next door neighbour had it, and it is so cruel. He recognised the dog long after he had forgotten who his wife was. He would open drawers and pee in them, and wander all the time. Quite often he could be found peering through my windows, which gave me a bit of a start! He wandered a long way once, entered a house, switched on the TV and was quite happy, but the owners were not when they returned! He was a huge man, Polish, and had been on the long march, survived all sorts of horrors only to be lost in his own mind.
His wife used to come and get me when he was being particularly difficult as for some reason he would obey my instructions. Poor woman was killed in a car accident, so they took him away and the house was sold.
I really feel for all of you who have to cope with it on a daily basis - you still love the person who they were, you want to care but it is so demoralising and tiring, and the frustration can be overwhelming, and you know it can last a long time. There is help out there, take advantage of any you can find, even it is an hour a week with someone else watching over them.

 

[Sonoftheheir]

My Grandad has had it for the past 10 years, he still lives on the farm but has a live in carer.
So sad to see a man who was once so clever be bought down to the level of a child.

We really must be doing stuff now to try and stave off this terrible disease.

 

[llamedos]

I understand Rural Dementia will be a topic on BBC farming today, tomorrow.

 

[Yale]

I understand Rural Dementia will be a topic on BBC farming today, tomorrow.

Depends if anyone remembers to listen.

....sorry....

 

[Forever Fendt]

The wifes cousin has vascular dementia ,we started noticing a difference in her last may and things have got progressively worse she can not walk or stand un aided and can not be left alone unsupervised and now is in a care home after spending 8 weeks in hospital after falling down stairs and breaking her pelvis all this at 49 years old , i would have smiled at one of the comments above but not know when you see what it can do to a fit and active relatively young lady inside 12 months