New Admiral Nurses helping families deal with dementia
LIFE-CHANGING work from two newly-appointed Admiral Nurses has already been experienced by carers and families of islanders with dementia.
Colette Bonner and Michelle Tennant have taken on the roles of specialist dementia nurses and been introduced to local families living with dementia, who have already seen a huge difference as a result of their help.
Dementia is currently the leading cause of death in the UK, and the last few years have placed increasing pressure on local services.
Caring for someone with dementia is said to be ‘living grief’, and part of the role of Admiral Nurses is to be able to provide life-changing support for families affected by all forms of dementia.
Maggie Le Conte’s husband has frontotemporal dementia, and she sees Ms Bonner every fortnight, in addition to attending the memory clinic and walking with other people and families with FTD.
‘Caring for someone with dementia is a full-time job and my husband is at home 24/7 so it can get quite stressful,’ she said.
‘There are so many emotions going around your head, you think you’re the only one and wondering why you’re feeling this way but speaking to Lottee [Ms Bonner] made me realise that it’s a completely natural feeling.
‘Seeing someone like Lottee, who's so experienced, has made a huge difference. She is so practical and empathetic to talk to.
‘Dementia is heartbreaking, horrible and cruel and it affects the brain so it’s not just the mind, it’s emotional, communication and muscular as well. It has been really helpful to confide in someone.’
Mrs Le Conte said that Ms Bonner offered practical and emotional support, helped her and her husband to develop new methods of communication, and help her to deal with her feelings and emotions and continue to care for herself and her hobbies. Ms Bonner’s support for Mrs Le Conte’s art, helping as a therapy, has encouraged her towards organising an art exhibition later this year.
Barbara Greening’s husband has Alzheimer’s and she has been seeing Ms Tennant for a few months. She said that the way Ms Tennant had helped her and her husband had been marvellous for them both.
‘Michelle is someone I can talk to about everything, she cheers me up and she has a real gift,’ she said.
‘What she does is a lot to ask of someone, but I look forward to when she comes round and I trust her immensely.’
Ms Tennant not only advises Mrs Greening on caring for her husband, but helps with her own health and wellbeing, ensuring she is looking after herself.
‘She’ll sit down with me to talk through things, rather than any other appointment when you’re in and out in 10 minutes,’ she said.
Mrs Greening also regularly attends the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association centre and sees Ms Tennant there as well.
The Admiral Nurse checks in on the Greenings once a week, and will call to check in on them.
