Hope


memory is going, that you can’t do what you did before, and that something is wrong. It takes all your courage to go and admit something is wrong.”


Although what she expected, the diagnosis left Ann reeling. “I had nursed people with dementia and my own father as well, so I know what to expect in the future and it terrifies me.” But as she and her mother both committed to do when first presented with the diagnosis, they have never given up. “Why worry? Because that won’t change anything; I’m grateful for what I can still do”, says Ann frankly.


Ann credits much of her buoyancy to the support her friends and loved ones have given her. “All my friends are trained nurses. They have been very supportive and caring. I found it very difficult to tell them though, its not like I’ve broken my leg.”


Speaking out


It was a friend who sent on her incredible journey into public speaking. “My friend who was President for Inner Wheel, which is part of the Rotary Club, asked me to give a talk to explain to their members how it is not just older people who develop Alzheimer’s.”


Ann enjoyed giving her talk, and was asked to share it with carers at the care home she now lives at. Soon things caught momentum and as word spread of her inspirational message, other invitations followed. Ann was inundated with requests to speak for other providers – including CIC, at care sector conferences and for the Alzheimers Society.


Even carers who support people with dementia day in and day out, found that they benefitted from speaking to someone who could talk about its effects as eloquently as Ann.


She gives an example. “I did a talk to all the carers at the home I live at now before I moved there”, says Ann. “They said, “Ann because you’ve told us why


Raising awareness


For the public at large she has another message: “People should not be scared of the word 'dementia'. We need to get rid of the stigma around mental health issues. We are just people with a condition; be with us and love us, and try and understand our difficulties.”


Ann has taken this message to millions of people, making many media appearances, including on BBC Radio 4’s Today and Woman’s Hour programmes, and on BBC Breakfast where she joined Professor Alistair Burns, National Clinical Director for Dementia to talk about the condition. “I was interviewed by Sian Williams and Charlie State, I had no idea


How Ann Johnson gave a voice to dementia sufferers.


you can’t handle taps, we now know why our residents can’t too”. So I hope that by talking to carers they can understand my problems and maybe help their residents who share them.”


“We all have problems and they are all to do with memory. It might be things like forgetfulness, not being able to read a book or not being able to wash like you used to. If carers understand things like that they can help residents through it.”


Ann believes that the cornerstone of good care is carers really getting know the people they support. “If you know your resident, you will know them as a person, how they deal with everyday life and know how they react to things. You will know what is normal and abnormal to them. It is vitally important that carers know their residents.”


In her meetings with care professionals, she has encouraged them to consider the simple ways she has found to cope with the disease and improve her life. “I use various things that allow me to live life as much as I can, to the best of my ability.” She gives an example: “I use a Dictaphone to record simple messages as reminders, which is a lifeline. I have found these strategies myself and I want others to know them too because these things have been a godsend.”


Ann, 19, at the start of her nursing career


what they were going to ask me so it was nerve-racking, but I really had the most marvellous time”, she laughs.


Ann believes it is particularly important that society gets to grips with the dementia crisis. “This condition will only progress, as people get older there will be more people with dementia and care has to be out there to support them in their life.”


And with that inspiration she will continue to give her talks for as long as she can. “I was asked what three things keep me going. I said, "My faith, my friends and doing my talks". My friends are so wonderfully supportive, my faith is vitally important to me as well, and doing talks gives me a purpose for living. As long as I can keep on doing them I will keep on going."


You First | www.c-i-c.co.uk | 13


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