A group discussion about being a speaker with dementia.

Hi its Philly, and we are at the Dementia Enquiries meeting in London today and I’m with Dory and Wendy, Howard, Agnes and Tracey and also Rachael my colleague and we’ve been talking about the things that make it difficult when your asked to be a speaker at a conference and also the things that might make it easier. So we are going to pass the phone around and share our ideas.

Hi its Dory, when things don’t go right it makes me feel anxious and then I don’t want to go because I need the arrangements to travel and accommodation as soon as possible when I’m first notified about it.

Its Wendy, when it goes wrong I just feel I won’t be bothered I just cancel it straight away.

Its Howard, when it goes wrong it makes me feel anxious.

Hi its Agnes from Scotland, when it goes wrong it makes me lose my confidence and frightened I don’t want to go.

Hi its Tracey, when it goes wrong it makes me quite upset it makes me anxious and I don’t want to get involved.

Hi its Dory, again and another thing I think they should make sure that the hotel is suitable for a person with dementia to stay in.

Hello its Wendy, I always give a list of my needs when I’m contacted first, especially having a named person and a telephone number for me to text or email cause I don’t want the phone.. I don’t want anyone to ring me and they have to agree to those lists before I say yes.

Hi its Tracey, the best Macintyre person I’ve ever worked for um speaking and they called yesterday. When they first asked me about my transport about my hotel and pick me up from the station take me to the station the next day etc and that stopped my worrying.

Hi its Agnes, and I just coming here noticed my distress one time when I was in Australia and couldn’t believe um how I looked and how I felt and there solution was they provide me with a wonderful PA Joanna and she sends out a generic letter with all my needs and she deals with everything and I get a clear what is it? a clear itinerary of what I’ve to do where I’ve to be, and all I need to do is concentrate on what they’ve asked me to do and its magic.

Howard: Organisations ask us to attend there event should have a one person responsible for organising all the information, that’s what we need and book everything for us and be the one point of contact that we need.

Philly: How does it feel when its not done wrong how do you feel when its done right?

Its awful
.
Agnes: Hi I feel contented I just feel that um I’m ready to go.. magic.

Tracey: When its right I’m like all happy, relived I don’t have to think about it I can just go.

Dory: When it goes right I feel happy and safe and willing to attend.

Wendy: When it goes right we’ve cracked it .. (laughter and chatter in back ground )

Howard: When it goes right I feel safe and valued.

Everyone joins in saying.. Bye.