Black Country couple share dementia story on national TV
A devoted Black Country couple, married for almost 50 years, have appeared in a national television appeal to share their devastating experiences of coping with dementia.
Geoff and Chris Ward, who live in Fallings Park, appeared on ITV's Lorraine as part of the channel's Text Santa appeal, to speak about the stress dementia can put on a relationship – and encourage those fighting the condition to seek help.
Chris, 70, was diagnosed with vascular dementia at 66 and her husband Geoff, 68, is now her full time carer. He has recently become a volunteer for the Alzheimer's Society, after battling the condition when it hit his mother and mother in-law.
Geoff had noticed the signs for nearly a year before Chris began to accept her situation, after failing to remember what she had been doing on Christmas Day when asked the day after.
Geoff said: "She didn't accept it at first and I don't think many people do.
"In January we will have been married for 50 years but the woman I am living with now is not the woman I married.
"It is one of those diseases that is so unfair, I dread the future, because I know that Chris' dementia is going to get worse."
The Text Santa appeal raises money and awareness for six UK charities, including the Alzheimer's Society
Geoff contacted the charity after Chris's diagnosis for support and information, and also attended a dementia café, which provides a supportive environment for people with dementia and their carers.
Money raised for the society through the Text Santa appeal will go towards training support workers and setting up more dementia cafés across the country.
Geoff said: "The cafés are a relief and the workers are worth their weight in gold. It is just so different to a normal situation, everyone knows exactly what you are going through.
"If you go out to a restaurant with someone who has dementia, you are on tenterhooks, hoping they don't do something that could appear strange. At the cafés, you can laugh about that sort of thing."
After moving into his role as a volunteer for the Alzheimer's Society, Geoff has noticedthe increasing importance of making Wolverhampton 'Alzheimer's friendly'.
Earlier this year, the city council's cabinet members took part in an Alzheimer's awareness sessions led by the society. It called for the development of a number of dementia-friendly communities around the country, and over the past two years health and social care providers, local businesses, religious groups and other organisations have worked closely to improve services for people living with dementia in Wolverhampton.
Geoff said: "It does feel like we are getting somewhere. I think there was a stigma before because people just didn't know how to deal with dementia.
"All it takes is for people to look out for signs and just be nice. If somebody is old and they are looking lost or confused, they could have dementia. It would be rude to ask outright but it isn't rude to ask if they need help and offer some guidance."
Following Chris and Geoff's appeal, Angela Rippon, broadcaster and Alzheimer's Society ambassador appeared with Lorraine, talking about her experience with her mum.
She said: "I have seen through my work that all sorts of people do talk about dementia but they didn't before because of the stigma. They were embarrassed or ashamed and it was very much in the shadows. We have had a wonderful turnaround.
"There is now a much greater understanding of what the condition is."
This year's chosen Text Santa organisations are Alzheimer's Society, Teenage Cancer Trust, Guide Dogs, WellChild, Marie Curie Cancer Care, and Together for Short Lives.
Money raised will enable 1,800 people with dementia to receive one-to-one advice from Alzheimer's Society Dementia Support Workers and funding an initiative to support younger with dementia.
