Dementia Awareness Week begins tomorrow. When a loved one is affected, their suffering and that of their friends and family can be hard to bear. The group Dementia Companions can help

The TROUBLED question of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “Am I one person today and tomorrow another?”, that was asked in a poem written shortly before his death, has a poignant relevance for anyone familiar with the effects of dementia. A loved one’s loss of memory, and so in some ways of identity itself, can be so distressing that it is extremely difficult to bear. In that poem, Bonhoeffer found an answer: “Whoever I am, Thou knowest O God, I am Thine.” These words can give strength to those struggling to cope with a loved one’s dementia.

Caring for a person with dementia is demanding both emotionally and physically. It can be a round-the-clock job with little support available and the carer often has to give up their own leisure pursuits, social life and holidays. People with dementia often cannot express their needs and this sometimes leads to challenging behaviour. This may be one reason why, sadly, there is still a stigma attached to dementia today; and people experiencing the condition and their carers often suffer isolation.

Faced with these sorts of problems, a Staffordshire doctor whose husband was suffering from dementia approached the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) branch in her local parish of St Joseph and St Etheldreda. With the support of the parish priest and her health visitor, they set up Dementia Companions. The volunteer group has now expanded across the country. Members receive training and this can be provided by the Alzheimer’s Society and other local groups such as Admiral Nurses (dementia specialist community nurses). E-learning resources are also important as are fact sheets provided by the Alzheimer’s Society.