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Jill Main: Thinking About Alzheimers
Dementia covers a broad spectrum of diseases encompassing Alzheimer's, Vascular Dementia and other forms of disease that affects a persons memory, cognitive ability, personality and quality of life.
Over 43,000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with dementia. The care required in the life of one person with dementia can take up to "seven pairs of hands" especially in the later stages of the desease.
Family, partners, friends, neighbours and colleagues all play a role in caring and supporting the person they love with dementia.
Alzheimer's New Zealand estimates that over 30,000 people are affected by the disease and that in the next forty years over 146,000 people will be diagnosed.
Mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2009. She's always been a bit of a character whose bubbly and fun personality shows through in her simple songs and poetry. In the past she spent hours tending her beautiful garden or bush walking with the love of her life and friends.
Evenings (or when her love was playing golf) were the time to put the days events in verse or work on some creative embroidery which showed her love of flora and fauna.
Working with Alzheimer's New Zealand, I'm creating a range of products incorporating some of mum's songs and poems along with imagery of the Chatham Island Forget Me Not, and donating all profits from the sale of this product to Alzheimer's New Zealand.
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