Steve Milton from Innovations in Dementia reads a letter to all diarists.
Hello, my name is Steve Milton. Some of you might know me, but for those of you who don’t, I’m a Director at Innovations in Dementia and I’m the guy that’s been uploading your diaries for the best part of this year, and I’ll also be the person who contacts you in future it there is anything we need to ask you about your diaries, anything we need to check.
I wanted to make this diary entry partly because I wanted to read to you a letter we have received from a lady called Penny. Penny is one of the fantastic volunteers that transcribes your diaries so that people can read as well as listen to what you’ve said. I wanted to read this letter to you because I think it’s important that you understand the enormous impact that your diaries can have. So anyway over to Penny:
Dear Diarists.
Firstly, thank you for being such brave and amazing individuals. Your spoken accounts as to what is happening on a day to day basis in your lives is providing me with inspiration and hope for the future. You are providing a whole wealth of information about what can be accomplished and what more is needed in society to enable people with dementia to be fully supported to play an active and fulfilling role in all of our communities. You speak so eloquently, with such passion, such humour, and yet some of you are also prepared to tell it “warts and all” and for that I feel so humble when I hear your voices.
I know some of you wonder whether what you are saying has any meaning that maybe you are just a rambling on or that you are not doing enough. All I can say is that your words and actions in making these diaries have such an effect on me that I can’t believe that they aren’t doing the same for others. Every word has such power because you are fighting against a disease most people are so scared of and you show such fortitude by making each diary entry. You have inspired me to go out and tell others about what you are encountering or doing through your diaries.
You have also given me an opportunity at a time when I needed it most to try my best to transcribe your spoken words and that has made me feel I can contribute in some small way to spread the work about what it is to live and fight against this disease and for that I am truly grateful.
Many thanks to you all,
Penny
