September 11th : Taking care

The topic this week is titled ‘Taking Care’ and continues the Dementia theme begun last week. Chris Avis will describe some of his experiences as a carer for his wife Anne who developed Alzheimer’s soon after their retirement from a self-employed business. As increasing numbers of people become affected by this life-changing, cruel disease, more individuals are finding themselves having to assume the unenviable role of carer for a loved one. Chris will be describing some of the coping strategies he used while supporting Anne, including, of course, his sense of humour! This was written by Chris in the midst of the most intense period of caring for his wife Anne at home.

1st Reading: in ‘Sometimes’ by Chris Avis, It was one way of trying to find some respite from the unrelenting stresses of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. The challenge of packaging intense feelings, emotions and frustrations into the rhyming and scanning disciplines of verse brought some satisfaction and release for Chris, however fleeting

2nd Reading : in To my mum, who is ill with Alzheimer’s disease , in This deep and heartfelt reflection was written by Anne and Chris’s daughter, Ruth, when Anne was still being cared for at home. Ruth is a musician who teaches the flute and is very artistic. Here, she ponders on the inscrutable effects that the growing dementia is having on her mum.