Latest news with #MemoryMatters
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'Slowly fading away' - Living with young onset dementia
"The laughter is what I miss the most about Jacqui. She was a very able, confident person. [now] I see that slowly fading away."Paul's wife Jacqui was diagnosed with young onset dementia aged 57. He says it now "affects every single minute of every day".When someone develops dementia before the age of 65, this is known as young-onset dementia. According to the latest NHS figures, almost 1,000 people in Devon and Cornwall have a diagnosis, with over 3,200 in the wider South West region of and Jacqui have since sought support at a "wonderful" early onset dementia group run by Plymouth-based charity Memory Matters. Noticing the changes Paul said he started to notice Jacqui getting confused and forgetting things during a family trip away, just before his 60th birthday."Jacqui, who had always been exceptional at her work, and the go-to person, suddenly became the person who couldn't do her work. She was struggling, that was really alien to me."With Jacqui's symptoms initially thought to be due to the menopause, and after numerous medical tests, she was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer's dementia in June Plymouth couple have two sons and have been married for almost 40 years. 'Jacqui's still Jacqui' Paul said his wife was now much quieter than she used to be and her condition affected every moment of daily life."She moves and walks slower. You have to constantly provide support in every area of what she does," he he said they both remained pragmatic about the said: "The future is what it is. You just have to pick up the pieces and deal with it. "Jacqui's signed up to a drug trial and we're going to travel at every opportunity until the day when we can't anymore. "We'll make the best of it and enjoy while we can."Jacqui's still Jacqui. We can still have a good time, it's just different. You have to stay positive."Jacqui said she "can't wait" to meet her first grandchild, a baby girl, due in early June. The couple have sought help through Plymouth-based charity Memory Matters since February commissioned to run groups in Cornwall, it provides dedicated, age-appropriate support through its tailored services, access to expert information and on-the-spot drop-in dementia advice, helping people live the best life they said, "It's really useful. You can talk openly about anything, as [we're] all going through the same thing. Jacqui seems to love it." To access such support, a diagnosis is vital, something which can become more complicated in later life. The NHS estimates at least one third of people in Devon and Cornwall with such conditions do not have Robertson, from the Alzheimer's Society, said: "Sometimes women can be misdiagnosed with the menopause or other conditions, such as depression or stress. At that age, there is a lot going on. "So it's really important to seek support, to rule out other things that can be treated."The Alzheimer's Society highlights the six main symptoms of dementia by using its online checklist NHS said: "Anyone with young onset dementia symptoms - which can include behaviour and personality changes and a decline in language skills - should speak to their GP."Young onset dementia is much rarer than in you or someone you know has been affected by this topic, you can visit the BBC Action Line website.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Shop Hop' bringing Bluffton, HHI together to help Memory Matters
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) — By 2025, $7 million people over the age of 65 will be living with Alzheimer's disease and that number could double by 2050. Those same statistics show 42% of Americans over 55 are eventually going to develop Dementia. Issues with the mind are what the experts at Memory Matters in the Lowcountry deal with every day. 'We serve over 5,000 people annually teaching about brain health and wellness, offering best IT programs to the community free memory screenings,' said Development Outreach Manager for Memory Matters Stacy Floyd. 'We support groups. We do a lot to help educate the community, but also to provide that, you know, hands on guidance and resources for families who are experiencing, you know, caring for a level with Alzheimer's.' Program Director Michelle Frink said, 'We have programs designated for those with early memory loss or mild cognitive impairment. And then we also have our Social Day program that provides respite for a caregiver and also giving our participants time to socialize and interact, which is really good for those that have dementia.' Memory Matters does just that with a variety of programs to help stimulate their minds. 'There's movement, there's mind, there's a little bit everything we do here,' Floyd said. 'You incorporate music therapy, cultural events. We do celebration. They do a lot of trivia. We have entertainers that come in and volunteer their time to play music that's so important and special to them.' Frink said, 'This is a failure free zone for them to be themselves, to engage and have a good time. So, coming here is their place. They don't feel, you know, threatened or overwhelmed. They know that they're coming here to have a good time, and we know that it's good for them.' Floyd said, 'We always say that earlier is a better or early intervention is best. That's why we always promote coming in and doing a baseline memory screening just to see. And it's free, so there's no reason not to do it. But we always say early intervention is key. I think the holistic approach is where you can come to Memory Matters, and you can learn about brain health and wellness. You can get your free memory screening that then may introduce you to the other things that are offered the programs and services, a comprehensive dementia care that maybe you don't need right then, but that you need to be aware of for your aging parents or for your family or for yourself.' A 501-C-3, Memory Matters gets no federal funding and relies on some money coming in from participants to keep the programs running, but more is always needed. 'A lot of our families and participants that are in the program, you know, receive assistance to be able to come in. Without that money, they would not be able to participate. So, we rely on events like the shop hop and the gala and the 5K and, you know, local grants and private donors to help us be able to provide those services.' That's where the Gala co-chairs Julie Martin and Kathryn Mademann came in. They wanted to create another event where folks could participate and raise money for the charity. 'Memory Matters operates on Hilton Head but they reach people in Bluffton. I thought Let's bridge the two communities. And so, what we did, we reached out to the retailers, and it was a quick yes,' said Mademann. Martin added, 'I have friends, but specifically Rob, my significant other, both his parents had Alzheimer's and they both were in assisted living memory care facilities here on the island. And I saw what it's like to tend to that, tend to the people you love and deal with it. And it just it gripped my heart. And it's an organization that I have passion for because they touch everybody in their community. Alzheimer's eventually will probably affect all of us in one way, shape or form.' Mademann's reason for wanting to help was even more personal. 'My mother had dementia,' said Mademann. 'You hear about Alzheimer's; you hear about dementia. But the one thing you don't realize is how it impacts one's life. I took care of her for six years before she passed away a year ago. It's a sad disease to have, but it really tells us about the importance of mental health or brain health, which is I think is equally as important as getting your blood pressure taken these days. There's something so important. This is what memory matters is also educating. But for me, you know, you just watch your mother who's been caring for you and you care for her. And it just it just gets very sad. And they you know, they go through all these different emotions without them having control of any of them.' That's where the 'Shop Hop' comes in. 'The shop hop itself, it's just a variety of businesses and it's really an opportunity for people to sort of go and spend their money, which they would anyways,' Martin said. 'But it is local boutiques. They are located from Sea Pines, Shelter, Cove, Wexford and over here on Main Street for Hilton Head. Come join us, do a little shopping therapy, go to lunch with your girlfriends and 10% of the sales will go to Memory Matters and making a difference.' Hilton Head Island Shop Hop is Thursday, March 27 from 1-6 p.m. at a variety of stores on the Island. Bluffton will then take part April 10 from 1-6 p.m. In both cases 10% of the sales that day will go directly to Memory Matters. If you can't shop those days, the agency will also be holding their Annual Gala May 22. Tickets are now on sale for that event as well. Click here for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
