Hello darkness my old friend

Travel enlightens you and awakens you to the differences there are among us. When you travel your friends will call you "lucky". But as you are becoming aware of the bigger world around you and as you share your vision, you may hope that your friends will move forward with their own dreams. But the reality is that:
Some will hear, but not listen. 
Some will listen, but not understand.
And some will understand, but not act.

Paul Simon wrote these words below and he and Art Garfunkel sang it to us in 1964, and today we still need to heed the words in this song.

Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams, I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light, I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
No one dared
Disturb the sound of silence

"Fools," said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls"

And whispered in the sounds of silence

Warning signs Dementia 2

As I have said in earlier posts, my friend has been diagnosed with Vascular Dementia and is starting to show a decline in his ability to function. Dementia is a term that describes a variety of symptoms affecting a person's cognitive functioning, including their ability to think, remember, and reason. Dementia occurs when nerve cells in a person's brain stop working. Although it typically happens in older people, it is not an inevitable part of ageing. The brain's natural deterioration happens to everyone as they grow older, but it occurs more quickly in people with dementia. Dementia tends to get worse over time, and there are a few key early warning signs.

There are 10 typical early signs of dementia. Here are the last five, For a person to receive a diagnosis, they would usually experience two or more of these symptoms, and the symptoms would be severe enough to interfere with their daily life.

6. Problems speaking or writing

Handwriting may become less legible as dementia progresses. A person with dementia may find it hard to engage in conversations. They may forget what they are saying or what somebody else has said. It can be difficult to enter a conversation. People may also find their spelling, punctuation, and grammar get worse. Some people's handwriting becomes more difficult to read.

7. Misplacing things

A person with dementia may not be able to remember where they leave everyday objects, such as a remote control, important documents, cash, or their keys. Misplacing possessions can be frustrating and may mean they accuse other people of stealing.

8. Poor judgment or decision-making

It can be hard for someone with dementia to understand what is fair and reasonable. This may mean they pay too much for things, or become easily sure about buying things they do not need. Some people with dementia also pay less attention to keeping themselves clean and presentable.

9. Withdrawal from socializing

A person with dementia may become uninterested in socializing with other people, whether in their home life or at work.  They may become withdrawn and not talk to others, or not pay attention when others are speaking to them. They may stop doing hobbies or sports that involve other people.

10. Changes in personality or mood

A person with dementia may experience mood swings or personality changes. For example, they may become irritable, depressed, fearful, or anxious. They may also become more disinhibited or act inappropriately.

When to see a doctor

A person who experiences any of these symptoms or notices them in a loved one should speak to a medical professional. According to the Alzheimer's Association, it is a myth that cognitive functioning always gets worse as a person gets older. Signs of cognitive decline may be dementia or another illness for which doctors can provide support.

Although there is no cure for dementia yet, a doctor can help slow the progression of the disease and ease the symptoms, and so improve a person's quality of life.

Warning signs of Dementia

As I have said in earlier posts, my friend has been diagnosed with Vascular Dementia and is starting to show a decline in his ability to function. Dementia is a term that describes a variety of symptoms affecting a person's cognitive functioning, including their ability to think, remember, and reason. Dementia occurs when nerve cells in a person's brain stop working. Although it typically happens in older people, it is not an inevitable part of ageing. The brain's natural deterioration happens to everyone as they grow older, but it occurs more quickly in people with dementia. Dementia tends to get worse over time, and there are a few key early warning signs.

There are 10 typical early signs of dementia. Here are the first five. For a person to receive a diagnosis, they would usually experience two or more of these symptoms, and the symptoms would be severe enough to interfere with their daily life.

These early signs of dementia are:

1. Memory loss

A person developing dementia may have trouble remembering dates or events. Memory loss is a common symptom of dementia. A person with dementia may find it difficult to recall information they have recently learned, such as dates or events, or new information. They may find they rely on friends and family or other memory aids for keeping track of things.

Our workshop on Memory Loss is very popular, and I think it is because many of us relate memory loss to dementia. It is important to remember that while most people occasionally forget things more frequently as they age, they can usually recall them later if their memory loss is age-related and not due to dementia.

2. Difficulty planning or solving problems

A person with dementia may find it difficult to follow a plan, such as a recipe when cooking, or directions when driving. Problem-solving may also get more challenging, such as when adding up numbers to paying bills.

3. Difficulty doing familiar tasks

A person with dementia may find it difficult to complete tasks they regularly do, such as changing settings on a television, operating a computer, making a cup of tea, or getting to a familiar location. This difficulty with familiar tasks could happen at home or work.

4. Being confused about time or place

Dementia can make it hard to judge the passing of time. People may also forget where they are at any time. They may find it hard to understand events in the future or the past and may struggle with dates.

5. Challenges understanding visual information

Visual information can be challenging for a person with dementia. It can be hard to read, to judge distances, or work out the differences between colours. Someone who usually drives or cycles may start to find these activities challenging.

Focus on the positive.

All is well, you don't have to like or love everything or everyone. Injustices and villains are always around us. 

You know this to be true, just as you know that the good and the beauty always far exceed the bad and the ugly. Life is beautiful, enjoy and focus on the positive, not the negative.