I recall when the children kept coming along in my previous marriage people would say: ‘they keep you young’.  I wasn’t always sure about that, and when we had four in tow we decided to call it a day.  With dementia I would say: ‘it keeps you on your toes’.

There are lots of reasons I need to stay wide awake at all times.  I need to keep Maureen safe and I have to keep an eye on what she is doing at all times.  If not there is a risk that she might come to harm by burning herself for example.  Then there is the chance she will forget where I am and wander off to look for me.  She is fine at going out for a walk but not so clever at finding her way back home.  Once I hear the door open, or can’t here her in the house, I have to move quickly or she is out of sight on a walkabout.

The other way Maureen keeps me on my toes is the the way in which her mood can change so quickly.  Sometimes I know what causes her ‘to go cool on me’, at others I have no idea what has lead to hostility.  Yesterday, Maureen became Mrs Angry when she heard I was going to the Leisure Centre in ‘her car’.  When I returned home a couple of hours later my loving wife was back responding positively to my positive comments about how good she looked after her hair do.  In fact she was totally preoccupied with the need  to give Chloe,our carer, a tip for her good work.

Teepa Snow says you need to hone your observational skills, become a detective, when you are supporting someone with dementia.  Such investigative skills would be helpful along with the need to stay on your toes.  Strange that as today is ‘Soccer Saturday’ as I always listen to the Sky Blues match on the radio this afternoon!