Dementia’s tough, but ‘liveable’

Christine Bryden does not mince words about living with dementia. It is difficult, she says, but that does not stop her from facing up to life’s challenges.

Ms Bryden (pictured) was only 46 and working as first assistant state secretary in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet when she was diagnosed with dementia in 1995.

At first, she thought the symptoms she was experiencing were stress related.

Following her diagnosis, Christine wrote her first book, Who Will I Be When I Die? followed by Dancing with Dementia in 2005.

Ms Bryden’s story is an emotional and spiritual journey of survival and hope, accompanied by Paul, a loving and supportive husband.

The outspoken advocate for equality in care and for blasting apart the stigma of dementia spoke at Wahroonga Retirement Village recently.

Organisation and communication were the best way to living a functional life, she told the audience in Biloela.

Wahroonga manager, Lorna Perrett, said the audience was ‘in awe’ of such an organised and forthright person.

“What we take as everyday simple tasks can look so different to someone with dementia,” she said.

Ms Perrett said a typical question from the audience was ‘how do you cope with travel?’

Ms Bryden responded she uses an eye mask to travel in a car, particularly at night as she feels like the headlights are just coming at her, and she also has a specially made ear plug because she doesn’t like the noise at shopping centres or an airport.

More than 75 people attended Ms Bryden’s sessions, including Biloela community members, family and carers of loved ones with dementia, and staff from Wahroonga, Baralaba Aged Care and Blue Care.