Catherine McGinty“Put yourself in my mammy’s shoes. Can you imagine the sheer terror a person with dementia would experience being left in a strange house, with people they did not know, with no explanation of why or for how long?"

These were the words of the daughter of a woman with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease who described as “completely terrifying” the instant she realised her extremely vulnerable mother was missing.

When her mother did not return home from MellowDEEDS in the Old Library Trust, Healthy Living Centre in Creggan at the usual time, her daughter rang the group to check if everything was okay.

MellowDEEDS is an integrated choir comprising people living with dementia and DEEDS (Dementia Engaged and Empowered in Derry and Strabane) staff and volunteers.

Speaking to Derry Now, the daughter, who wished to remain anonymous to preserve her mother’s confidentiality, said she was told her mother had left the centre an hour and a half previously in a taxi arranged by the Old Library Trust.

At that instant, my heart froze,” she said.

I felt sick with fear. I did not know where my elderly mother was and the group into whose care I had entrusted her did not know either.

Continue reading @ Derry Now.

Vulnerable Alzheimer's Patient Left At Wrong House

Catherine McGinty“Put yourself in my mammy’s shoes. Can you imagine the sheer terror a person with dementia would experience being left in a strange house, with people they did not know, with no explanation of why or for how long?"

These were the words of the daughter of a woman with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease who described as “completely terrifying” the instant she realised her extremely vulnerable mother was missing.

When her mother did not return home from MellowDEEDS in the Old Library Trust, Healthy Living Centre in Creggan at the usual time, her daughter rang the group to check if everything was okay.

MellowDEEDS is an integrated choir comprising people living with dementia and DEEDS (Dementia Engaged and Empowered in Derry and Strabane) staff and volunteers.

Speaking to Derry Now, the daughter, who wished to remain anonymous to preserve her mother’s confidentiality, said she was told her mother had left the centre an hour and a half previously in a taxi arranged by the Old Library Trust.

At that instant, my heart froze,” she said.

I felt sick with fear. I did not know where my elderly mother was and the group into whose care I had entrusted her did not know either.

Continue reading @ Derry Now.

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