At the age of 58, I was diagnosed with vascular dementia. I had previously had two bouts with TIA’s which ultimately caused the dementia. Fortunately, I had retired just prior to them from a 34 year career in teaching. Unfortunately, having vascular dementia has prevented me from being a substitute teacher, which had been my plan all along. The first real evidence that something was terribly wrong occurred one day as I prepared to run an errand. When I went to put on my tennis shoes, which were sitting next to the door along with many other pairs belonging to my husband and myself, I quickly came to realize (with great shock) that I didn’t recognize ANY of the shoes and couldn’t tell which were mine and which were his. Luckily, I still had the ability to do some problem solving and began to compare sizes–the smaller would be mine. I picked out a pair…and went on my merry way. Soon after, I made an appointment with my neurologist…

Being proactive as I am, I immediately began to try to look for ways to improve the short term memory loss that I was experiencing. Though nothing can ever really bring it back, I play games, do logic problems, put puzzles together…often times I cannot solve the problems, but I figure just trying will help. I write a weekly blog about living with dementia. I also put together and teach some lessons at the local senior center about strengthening the mind. Recently, I joined the board of the Cooperative Ministry of Aging and have taken an active role in disseminating material about Meals on Wheels and Telephone Reassurance Programs. I also volunteer with Community Support Systems and a local church. In other words, I stay busy and push myself to do all I am able.

I would recommend to caregivers that you push your loved one to do and be all he/she can be. Make daily activity a must. And as for those of you with dementia–do the same. Volunteer. Play games. Take walks. Do photo-journaling or make jewelry or do ceramics. Keep your mind and body active. AND try to live as stress-free as possible.