‘She was my wonderful everything…’
“Iwanted to do my best for Dolly, my wife of 59 years, but I sometimes didn’t know how. I struggled to understand why she used to behave like she did.
“Our four daughters also found it hard to deal with the changes that were happening to their mum, especially when she eventually didn’t recognise them anymore, which was so terribly upsetting for everyone.
“I mourned the loss of our old life, we used to have wonderful holidays, and a great time with friends, but those just became cherished memories.
“I wanted to care for Dolly for as long as possible and discovering Sage House enabled me to do that, her wellbeing was maintained for longer, which delayed her having to go into a home.
“The Day Break service was
a life saver for me as I could have a few hours to myself, I was so utterly exhausted, physically and mentally.
“Towards the end she didn’t really smile or laugh, but when she came to Sage House, as soon as she walked
through the door, she started smiling.
I knew that one day she would forget who I was, and that was terribly sad, but the help and care from Dementia Support made our journey easier.
“She was a wonderful mother, a wonderful grandmother, a wonderful wife. My wonderful everything.”
Ronnie is now a regular volunteer at Sage House where his own experience comes as some comfort and support to others making their way through their own dementia journey.
Ronnie says, “Meeting the people and hoping that maybe, I’ve made life a little bit easier for them. If they ask me, ‘what are you doing here?’ I tell them about how much I love my Dolly and how much it meant to her coming here”.
Ronnie’s story highlights how vital our services are, and even more so now as we recover from the past couple of years.
We have witnessed the devastating impact of social isolation for people with dementia, and some people’s symptoms have progressed faster than expected.
Thanks to the support of our regular givers, we are able to help pave the way for people living with dementia, but there is still so much more to do.
Every dementia is different, every set of circumstances is different, but the services we offer here at Dementia Support brings together all the support people need to live independently for longer, and to make the best of each day.
To visit the Dementia Support website, scan the QR code below