Yes, it is the heartache of watching a person's personality fade (or change entirely) as well as one's carefully planned future disappear. My retirement plan of the big overseas trip to see places of my Grandparents' early lives in the UK has now faded. People say "put him in respite" but is that fair to him ? Also, knowing I was away doing that without him would not feel right - and not as much fun.
Dementia is thought of as an old person's disease but B-I-L was diagnosed at 62 and hubby displayed symptoms well before he was 70. They are by far not the youngest, some people can be as young as 30. Imagine having small children and a husband with dementia ?
A friend has adult off-spring who come up from Melbourne to spend the day with Dad which allows Mum some time away from the home and the worries, time to rejuvenate a bit. For those of us who were not able to have children it can be a very lonely life. Friends cannot understand, are embarrassed (it could be them) and stay away (remind us of friends along the BC pathway ?).
Having support and getting some tips from others on how to cope with the day to day issues would be fantastic.
