Active, and enjoying life
Despite Alzheimer’s, Tony Bidwell remains active and upbeat
Tony Bidwell has a clear memory of Zeppelins flying over his family home in England during the Second World War. But he has trouble remembering where a saucepan belongs.
The retired biology professor, who lives in Wallace River with his wife Shirley, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011. But he still has interesting stories to tell, is very active and he’s enjoying life.
“I forget things and I get annoyed with that sometimes, but there’s no use being angry,” he
said. “It’s mostly my short-term memory that’s affected, and the biggest problem is forgetting people’s names, but I’m used to it now.”
Tony doesn’t let Alzheimer’s stop him from a variety of activities. He walks four miles a day when the weather is good; when it’s raining or stormy he exercises on a stationary bike,
which he’s outfitted with a rack to hold a book so he can read at the same time. When he goes out for walks alone he takes a compass and wears a radio transmitter on his wrist.
Although he lost two fingers while climbing years ago, he learned to play piano by ear and often plays the organ at church.
“The music is now sometimes getting scrambled in his brain, and sometimes he plays the same tune for more than one hymn,” said Shirley. “I would say in the past year there’s been a considerable slide. He’s become less interested in things about the property; he doesn’t worry much about bugs on trees now. He eats and sleeps well, gets his exercise and is cheerful, though.”
Tony can remember experiences from his past, including living near the cliffs of Dover, in a large white house that was damaged during war. He came to Canada when his father, who was in the navy, was reassigned to Halifax.
“We sailed across the ocean with gold in the hold,” he recalls. “We were escorted by a cruiser. How that could save us from a submarine I have no idea.”
Tony spends time at his desk each day, writing his autobiography for family and friends
to read. He uses travel books he put together years ago to rekindle memories, which include climbing the Alps, cycling through France and lecturing in Russia, China, Australia and New Zealand.
He also makes sweet apple cider from fruit grown on his own property.
In the past, he wrote dozens of scientific papers, as well as textbooks on plant physiology that were translated into several languages, providing him with a retirement income.
He has always liked languages and studied Latin, French, German and Italian. He can still speak some German and French.
Because dementia can be stressful for the partner, Shirley
attends a support group, which she finds very helpful.
During the past few years she has learned a lot about the condition.
“Exercise is number one,” she said. “Anyone who can’t exercise is at a disadvantage. Second is a good diet and third is mental stimulus.”
Social interaction is also important, although many people are avoided after being diagnosed with dementia.
“I’ve had what I consider to be a very interesting life and I enjoyed it,” Tony added. “I still enjoy it, despite Alzheimer’s. I just had my 90th birthday but my mother was 105 when she died.
“I won’t die of Alzheimer’s; I’ll take it along with me.”