The importance of planning for the future for people living with dementia is the focus of the second episode of Dementia Australia’s ‘Hold the Moment’ podcast which is out now.
The podcast episode features stories from people living with dementia and discusses future planning including wills, advance care and power of attorney.
Podcast co-host Jim Rogers, who lives with younger onset dementia, said it was confronting to be told to get his affairs in order and do it sooner rather than later.
“There are so many life changing things you have to think through when you get a dementia diagnosis,” Mr Rogers said.
“You have to totally rearrange your life to new circumstances which can feel pretty overwhelming.
“When you’re young, as I feel, to be told ‘you need to get your affairs in order’ and do it sooner rather than later, because there's no predictability about the amount of time you have, it’s just really confronting. It's just something you don’t think you’re going to have to do.”
Pam Eade, who lives with primary progressive aphasia, has designed a bright blue custom casket as part of her ‘active dying plan’.
“I was diagnosed early, so I got what I call my ‘active dying plan’ out of the way. And now I’m on my ‘active living plan’ and my adventure with dementia,” Ms Eade said.
“The progression of primary progressive aphasia for me means that my language skills will deteriorate, my comprehension will go, my ability to read and to form the memories of what I’m reading and looking at will go, and it will progress to a stage where I honestly I don’t want to be at.”
To hear more about Jim’s and Pam’s stories and hear from Professor Nola Ries, from the Faculty of Law at the University of Technology Sydney and co-founder of the Dementia Law Network, you can listen to the full episode here.
Whether you've enjoyed what you've heard already, or are yet to start listening, there is plenty of impactful, emotional, inspiring and uplifting content for you to discover on Hold the Moment.
Listen to and follow Hold the Moment wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also find it on our website here.
For support, please contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An interpreter service is available. The National Dementia Helpline is funded by the Australian Government. People looking for information can also visit dementia.org.au.
Dementia Australia acknowledges and appreciates the support of the Australian Government for this initiative. Hold the Moment is produced by Deadset Studios.
About Hold the Moment
Hold the Moment is a podcast by people living with dementia. People living with dementia were involved in the development and production of the podcast from the start, so you’re hearing about issues that impact them from them.
Hold the Moment is co-hosted by Jim Rogers, who lives with younger onset dementia, and respected journalist and broadcaster and Dementia Australia Ambassador Hamish Macdonald, whose father has dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s.
Listen to and follow Hold the Moment wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also find it on our website here.
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Dementia Australia is the source of trusted information, education and services for the estimated more than 421,000 Australians living with dementia, and the more than 1.6 million people involved in their care. We advocate for positive change and support vital research. We are here to support people impacted by dementia, and to enable them to live as well as possible. No matter how you are impacted by dementia or who you are, we are here for you.
For support, please contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. An interpreter service is available. The National Dementia Helpline is funded by the Australian Government. People looking for information can also visit dementia.org.au
Media contacts: Evie Smith, Media and Communications Advisor 0426513927 [email protected]
When talking or writing about dementia please refer to Dementia-Friendly Language Guidelines.
Note to Editors:
We request, where possible, details for the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 appear alongside news stories about dementia, as these stories often prompt questions or concerns:
If this story has prompted any questions or concerns, please call the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 (24 hours, 7 days a week) or visit dementia.org.au.