Living with Dementia – Seamus’ Story

The ARC & ICP have been working with Dementia NI  to help make Irvinestown one of the first Dementia friendly towns in Northern Ireland, we had a great evening at the ICP AGM where we provided a informative insight into Dementia with the help of Dementia NI, the annual report with full details have been shared on this website if you would like to view.  We would like to share Seamus’ story with you…

“Good evening everyone

Some years ago I found my memory wasn’t as good as it used to be. I was forgetting things that I had been told. With encouragement from the family I decided to pay a visit to the doctor and the end result was that I got a diagnosis of mixed dementia. This was nearly 2 years ago. So I have been clinically diagnosed and I have been on medication since. I have never been on medication in my life and now I am on 4 pills per day!

My lifestyle has not changed. I run with the North Fermanagh Fitness Club every Sunday at 8am, right throughout the year. Come rain, sun or snow and I can tell you sometimes it’s Baltic!! It has been very good for me to continue doing this meeting people especially when tray bakes, coffee and tea are available after the run. I told people from the start that I had memory problems and they were very understanding.

I love singing and with encouragement from my son I rejoined the two choirs – Sacred Heart and the Irvinestown Community Choir. I do a spinning class as well as other sporting activities as much as I can throughout each week. I also love gardening and can spend hours in the good weather digging, cutting grass and hedges, and doing various physical things.

I certainly delight in the physicality of all that I do. That of course includes the washing of floors and hoovering in the home. The Brotherhood mightn’t like me saying that. The medics agree that this is very good for me to continue living my life just as I did before I was diagnosed.

The main thing I want say is that there are many people who are living with dementia and don’t want to voice it.   It seems to be the hidden disease that nobody wants to talk about.

I would encourage everyone who thinks that they may have memory problems to go as soon as possible to get a diagnosis so they can avail of the support THAT IS out there and hopefully they will maintain their independence for a longer period like me.

I joined the Dementia NI group that runs here in the Arc. Paula runs that group and can help anyone who needs support. I like to attend the memory afternoon in the Belmore Court Hotel in Enniskillen run by the Alzheimer’s Society.

I had heard of dementia friendly towns in right across Ireland. I really feel Irvinestown could take this idea and nurture it because of all the great community work we already do.  

We are a great town for community spirit. I know we can achieve this, with the help of family and friends, if we all agree to make small changes, to make life easier for people who have dementia.

 Thank you for listening

Seamus McCusker Dementia Advocate “