Local councillor Raymond Farrell, whose father has been diagnosed with the disease
SEPTEMBER marks Alzheimer’s month as charities around the world embark on a campaign to help raise awareness of the disease and challenge stigma.
Local Alzheimer associations will focus their activities on the care required by people with dementia throughout the course of the condition.
The disease affects hundreds of Fermanagh people and their families.
Ballinamallard councillor Raymond Farrell speaks about his experience of dealing with Alzheimer’s after his father with diagnosed with the disease.
He said: “The impact that this disease has on a carer and a family can never really be truly measured. I have seen this at very close hand in my own family.
“My father has Alzheimer’s and the change it makes in his life is marked. I suppose the day my dad struggled to remember an item I told him to bring me after asking him a number of times really brought it all home to him as well as myself.
“I think that moment you realise that your memory is deteriorating can be a very difficult thing to deal with for many people.
“When you see them struggling with it in their innermost thoughts, I think that can be very hard for a family to deal with and accept.
“I suppose I still struggle to accept the illness in many ways. The things you take for granted, the casual conversations about everyday life and people we know all of a sudden are not there any more.
“That said, I am glad he is content and I am blessed to have good support in our family as well as the support services which all help us to allow dad to remain where he wants to be in his own home.”
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