Wendy Mitchell.
Wendy Mitchell appeared on Good Morning Britain on February 13th, talking about how she lives day to day with dementia and how it does not stop her from living life. Her appearance helped to bust many of the myths surrounding dementia, and it paid tribute to Wendy’s determination to protect her independence. Check out Wendy’s blog, where she takes us through her life in living with dementia. Wendy, retired from the NHS early, at the age of 61 – and entered a new phase where she began to live her life with dementia. Wendy was diagnosed with Dementia at the age of 58. However, the condition has not stopped Wendy from going on great adventures. You can read our post about the Victoria Derbyshire show, where dementia is highlighted and features Wendy Mitchell.
Dementia.
Dementia is a disease which typically affects older people. You may have a relative or friend that is living with the condition now. ‘There are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, with numbers set to rise to over 1 million by 2025. This will soar to 2 million by 2051‘ (Alzheimers.org.uk).
However, don’t let these numbers scare you. As Wendy puts it, “never think of it as the end, because there is so much you can do”. This is true for anyone living with dementia. Don’t allow it to be a burden on you, you still have a wonderful life to live. We could all learn something from Wendy; sometimes being told that you have dementia of any kind can make people instantly think their lives are at an end and it is just a matter of time before you forget how to live. If anything, stopping yourself from being active in day to day living can be the worst thing. It is probably best to stay mentally active, keep your day busy, and have a positive outlook on life. It is then that you can start preparing and looking towards the future.
It can be many years before the condition causes a significant deterioration. Within that time though, people may feel abandoned and that there is little understanding of dementia beyond the absolute worst ideas we have. This is why it is so important to raise awareness of the condition so that we may build a truly dementia-friendly society.
Looking Ahead towards the Future.
As important as it is to remain positive, we must also remember that dementia does deteriorate one’s health as the condition progresses. This means that we should consider how someone with dementia will care for themselves, and how they will afford to pay for care as their health needs change. It is best to get as much information as soon as possible. Once you have all the information that you need and take all of the steps to safeguard your future – be it that setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) before you lose the mental capacity to make decisions – you may then feel better prepared about what the next steps are in caring for someone or yourself.
The NHS is obligated pay for care costs for those with a primary health need. People with Dementia are among those who could be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding. At Just Caring Legal, we are here to help you. Dementia can be a difficult diagnosis to be given, but it is better to be prepared than face the problems as they come. We will guide you through what you need and what to prepare for and help you to maximize your chances of securing NHS Continuing Healthcare funding when the time comes that you may need it.
Your free consultation
For your free consultation about care funding you may be entitled to if you or a relative has dementia, speak with Roz on 0191 556 1078 or email her at [email protected]