I tend to use music in all sorts of ways since dementia has been the elephant in our lives.  YouTube is a great bonus as any ‘Rave From the Grave’ is at my fingertips.  It suddenly struck me this morning that two of Dusty Springfield’s numbers give a musical interpretation of how things are at the moment.

Maureen has been crying this morning because she says she doesn’t know what she is going to do today.  Any self-respecting pop picker will know that one:  I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself.  This seems to be a common theme with dementia; not knowing how to fill time.  Simple solution here for the carer – suggest an opening gambit for the day and move on from there.

The other issue where Dusty again comes to my rescue to outline a theme is: I Only Want To Be With You.  I may be playing on words her because the reality is that Maureen only wants me to be with her.  Dementia makes people possessive:  I have seen that with my mum, who also has dementia. The looks she gives me when I give my attention to someone else in the Care Home could kill.

It is fairly easy to accommodate the first issue by creating a ‘To Do List’, so I leave an untidy kitchen for Maureen’s attention on many occasions .  The second is something I just have to live with and guard against.  Come to think of it  Willie Nelson can always help me out on that one.  All I have to do is call up Willie; start a slow dance and all will be well.