Meet Dawn
Wednesday,
11 November 2015Personal stories
Dawn is a woman living with dementia. She likes to keep her mind active playing bingo and answering questions on quiz shows. Dawn keeps her body active by walking her dog Buckley.
Dawn is a woman living with dementia. She likes to keep her mind active playing bingo and answering questions on quiz shows. Dawn keeps her body active by walking her dog Buckley.
Transcript
[Beginning of recorded material]
Dawn: My name is Dawn. I have two children, Steve and Sue, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and I've got a beautiful Shih Tzu dog, Buckley, named after the Collingwood coach, who I adore. And I walk him every day, he loves, loves people.
[visual: Dawn sits on the couch with her dog, Buckley]
Dawn: When I found out I had dementia, I was gobsmacked. I never ever thought I'd be like I am, but then I found out there was a club, the Memory Lane Cafe, I found out.
[visual: Dawn talks to her daughter, Sue]
Dawn: We've been to every meeting, sing-along, afternoon tea, meeting people. You're mixing with people that have got what you've got, and you can talk about it. I find if I don't get out and about, I mope, and that's what I don't want to do.
[Title card: Dawn plays bingo]
Dawn: I love bingo. Really, really love my bingo. Anything that makes my brain move is helping me. I like bingo because, well, you've got to be alert to mark off the numbers all the time, and then sing out “Bingo”. I mean, you could have a thing there and not realise, and then the next one would sing out “Bingo” and you've missed out. So, it just keeps your mind, you know what I mean? You've got to be alert, really, really alert.
I like to watch quiz shows because it helps your brain, you know what I mean? You're pushing yourself to find the answers. You're enjoying it, but that's why I find it. I mean, a lot of them I can't answer, but then perhaps next time I can answer.
[Title card: Dawn walks her dog, Buckley]
Dawn: I've got to know that I'm here on my own but I've got to make it what it is, I've got to make it, you know what I mean? I've got to push myself to get out, walk my little dog, pop in and see this one, pop in and see that one. Yeah, it's not easy, but what else can you do? You can't do anything else, isn't it? It's just that you've got to do something.
[Dementia Australia logo]
[Title card: National Dementia Hotline 1800 100 500. For language assistance call 131 450]
[Title card: Visit dementia.org.au]
[END of recorded material]
Free and confidential, the National Dementia Helpline, 1800 100 500, provides expert information, advice and support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. No issue too big, no question too small.
