Naomi’s grandad, Jim was diagnosed with dementia. Here, she shares his story and explains that at the grand age of 88, he continues to live well.
“This year has been an eventful one so far, having moved back to Scotland from the United States, and then deciding to take on a huge personal challenge – the EMF half marathon in Edinburgh. I’ve always been interested in powerlifting, never running… so committing to run 13 miles was always going to push me hard. I’ve spent the last six months training, spurred on by the cause I’m determined to champion – to raise awareness of dementia, and the impact it has on families across Scotland.
“This was brought home to me when my own Grandad was diagnosed with the condition, and I began to realise the support that is needed to help people navigate this experience. Grandad is an incredible man, and never fails to inspire me – even more so recently. He’s led such an interesting life, with a fulfilling career as Director of Operational Requirements for the MOD, then Air Officer for Scotland and Northern Ireland in the RAF, and latterly CEO of the SSPCA. In this role, he did a lot of work for animal welfare and was keen to influence European legislation on this front. Now retired, he still has that same determination to succeed despite his dementia – getting out into the garden, going on adventures with my granny, and looking out to the Firth of Forth from their home in Dalgety Bay. It’s heartening to see him continuing to embrace life and enjoying the things that have always been important to him.
"Another milestone will be reached this year, with my Granny and Grandad’s 65th wedding anniversary. Their shared determination to plot a course through his diagnosis is testament to the strength of their relationship – they’ve come through a lot together. Granny is 89 years old and is Grandad’s sole carer, so his diagnosis has impacted her the most. Along with dementia, he is also living with bone and prostate cancers, so there’s a lot to deal with and process – yet they still manage to get out and live life. Of course it’s not easy, dementia certainly continues to challenge all of us, but it has also allowed us to learn so many interesting stories about Grandad’s past life, his achievements, and experiences.
“When he learned he had dementia, Grandad received an initial 12 months’ post diagnostic support from Alzheimer Scotland. This was invaluable as it helped our family understand more about the condition, and how to anticipate and manage his symptoms. We also received support to help us plan for future decision-making, which can seem quite daunting at the beginning. Alzheimer Scotland’s assistance helped us feel more equipped to deal with situations that may arise and was pivotal in supporting Grandad through those first few difficult months.
“Since then, we have investigated the various services that are available nearby and have been amazed by how many community and activity groups are out there to provide ongoing support. This offers great reassurance to Granny and Grandad, as both can benefit from the various activities that can be enjoyed separately and together.
“I completed the Edinburgh half marathon on May 26. The longest distance I’ve ever tackled, it was a real test of endurance – but I did it. I’m so proud of this achievement given I couldn’t run 1 kilometre before I started training. Inspired by my Grandad, I decided to run in his honour and pledged any kind donations made by supporters to Alzheimer Scotland. So far, I’ve raised over £1000 which I hope will make a real difference to people who are impacted by dementia, their families, and carers.
"If I could offer advice to anyone who is considering taking on a fundraising challenge, I’d say just go for it! Try not to overthink it or doubt yourself, you can achieve whatever goal you set – it just takes some determination, the sense of achievement makes it all worthwhile.”