Living With Dementia: The Start Of A New Life With New Challenges

An East Riding resident who has early onset dementia has spoken of the challenges of living with the condition and how life has changed since the diagnosis.

When former NHS employee Wendy Mitchell, 60, received her diagnosis two years ago she was determined to do everything in her power to continue living as independently as possible and look to the future.

Mum of two Wendy, who lives in Walkington, said:

“I’m a very positive person so life is all about outmanoeuvring the disease and finding new ways to do things to enable me to remain independent.”

Despite never having previously used social media or blogging sites, Wendy decided to launch her own blog to document her experiences.

“I had never tweeted, blogged or facebooked in my life but since I was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, everything else in my life had changed, so why not this.

“I started my blog to allow me, in the first instance, to write all my thoughts before they’re lost. I have calendars that take care of the future but this blog serve as a reminder of what I’ve done and
said in the past. It now serves as my memory,” she said.

Wendy has gone on to become an ambassador for ‘Join Dementia Research’, a UK wide service which allows people to register their interest in taking part in dementia research, offering them the opportunity to be matched up to suitable studies.

This service gives everyone the chance to play their part in beating dementia, which is estimated to affect 5,500 people in the East Riding – a figure which is set to rise to around 9,100 by 2030.
Wendy said: “Research is a passion of mine as it’s a way to feel as though I’m contributing to finding a better existence for future generations, especially my daughters.

“Being involved in Join Dementia Research helps improve your sense of well being so I would encourage everyone with dementia to sign up and get involved. You’re looked after far better than if you’re simply in the system.”

And Wendy’s advice to others who may be facing the same diagnosis is to stay positive.

“Stay positive. Think of a diagnosis as the start of a new life with new challenges. A diagnosis is all about adapting and if you think of it as ‘outmanoeuvring the disease’ it is much easier to accept,” Wendy added.

For further information about Join Dementia Research visit the website www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk

Wendy is also a Patient Research Ambassador for Humber NHS Foundation Trust. To find out how to take part in local research studies contact the Trust’s Research and Development Unit on (01482) 301844 or email HNF-TR.ResearchTeam@nhs.net Wendy’s blog can be found at https://whichmeamitoday.wordpress.com/