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phullphilled 
4:05pm, March 22, 2009
I have not wrote in my journal for way tooooo long. I also send this out to many family and friends so this first part may not be of very much interest to some of you that take the time to read this. I try to stay up with all I can that I think that well help me to help myself to lead an active and full life. I came across the following article the other day that was of interest to me and thought I should send it along to the people where I got started righting my in my journal over a year ago. How the time flies no matter what is happening in a person life.
(Source: Nuffield Council on Bioethics) - There is no "miracle cure" just around the corner for dementia. And yet while the number of people suffering from the condition is increasing rapidly, there is a widespread lack of understanding about what people with dementia are capable of doing. This report concludes that we need to do more as a society to enable people to live well with dementia. Currently, they are not getting the support and respect that they need.
This report presents an ethical framework to help those who face dilemmas in connection with the everyday care of someone with dementia. The report forms the basis for a number of recommendations to policy makers in the following areas:
Promoting autonomy and well-being through an ethical approach to dementia care,
Including people with dementia in society,
Making decisions about the care and treatment of people with dementia,
Dealing with day-to-day ethical dilemmas in care,
Recognizing the needs of caregivers.
Go to full story: nuffieldbioethics.org
I did not copy the complete article because a lot of you may not give a hoot about stuff like this, especially if you never have had to deal with dementia and or Alzheimer’s. I really hope and pray never of you have to either but it seems some of us just do not have a choice, what things come our ways we have to either learn to deal with it or just quit living.
I have heard way to many stories of people giving up and just quit living and I know that it is does not have to be that way at all. I have been asked to work with Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) to help work to get a program started to help people like me that have early detection of having this nasty disease. Yes I said nasty, because there is no where to go but up, it does not get better and when I first found out I have Alzheimer’s I thought my life was over.
Over a period of time and listening to some very wise people I realized I still can live and enjoy a rather full and productive life. In fact some people that have known me all my life my say I am more productive than I have ever been. That is a joke folks. At least it is to me.
I recently was asked to go to Chicago and talk to a group about my journey with this disease a couple of weeks ago. The best part of all of the trip was my son, Brandon, ended up taking me to Chicago and got to hear me speak. That is the first time he heard me talk, at least when I was not talking to him and when I do I tend to talk more than I should. I am sure he agrees with that. The group I spoke to was a conference put on by the AFA and it was a privilege to be asked to go and look forward to being very active as long as I can. I guess that is really all I have to say at this time, some how have people understand, there still can be a live after a diagnoses like this, only if a person has Faith, Trust, Acceptance and Attitude, any one can do anything if they really want to do the best they can no matter what life deals them. God Bless Phil & Flops.
Comments
God bless you Phil. I've missed your wise words from the battle front. Good to hear you are sharing your story and what a great honor to speak on behalf of this tough disease and the journey you are on. Wonderful job and keep living strong my friend.
Pounder
Thank you Phil for the information. It seems that you are doing well and I hope that continues. As for me, my neurologist found the cause of my dementia and blindness. It turns out that I had extended migraines that were cutting off the blood-flow to my brain. Since then I have been on valporic acid and my vision has returned and most of the dementia is gone. I still have good/bad days, but it goes to show that one should never give up no matter what the cause. Best wishes to you and thank you for your journal it has helped me a lot - Kristin
CNSKris
It was so good to hear from you, it's been so long and I was really getting worried about how you were doing. I'm so glad to see your still out there talking and trying to help others understand what dementia/alzheimers is like from the perspective of someone with the disease, that is a tremendous contribution your making and since the numbers of victems of this disease is only going to increase as the baby boomers age the public needs education badly.
Bless you, hugs and loves, Georgia
GeorgiaW