Living with dementia magazine July 2009 issue

A former professor's knowledge of history, politics and art is being put to good use thanks to a carer respite scheme in Birmingham.

Gerald Kennedy was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2007, aged 74. Two years on, he lives a full and rich life, still embracing the subjects that have been at the forefront of his mind throughout his life.

Gerald was born in India, where he lived until the age of ten. He went on to read English at Cambridge University. Gerald began his career at the BBC, where he worked as an assistant in radio and then television. He then went to the US on a prestigious Commonwealth Fund Fellowship to train in political science at Harvard and Berkeley.

He stayed on as a teaching assistant before returning to the UK to lecture at The University of York. Gerald then moved to the University of Birmingham where he completed a DSc in political science, and was promoted to personal chair, becoming Professor Kennedy.

Mental stimulation
Although Gerald has less energy mentally due to Alzheimer's disease, intellectual conversations are still hugely important to him. Gerald's wife, Judith, a retired geneticist, is his main carer. They both share a love of architecture and often travel around the country by train visiting cathedrals and art galleries.

For the last two months, Gerald has been enjoying the company of Nadeem Alam, from the charity Crossroads in Birmingham and Solihull, which runs a carer respite service. Once a week, Nadeem, who is Pakistani, visits Gerald at his home in Moseley, Birmingham, and they spend five hours in each other's company.

They go for walks, often visiting the botanical gardens in Birmingham, and occasionally go to Birmingham university library. Nadeem recently took Gerald for a curry in the Asian district in Sparkhill.

Gerald says,

'Nadeem is a very intelligent man and I like talking to him. I enjoy talking about India and he's happy to talk about that. He is interested in British political history so we discuss politics and history.

'I have a job with him to improve his English. He's a component of many different education systems and wants to pass an exam so he can embark on a medical career here.'

A golden opportunity
Judith, Gerald's wife, says,

'Gerald gets on so well with Nadeem, and each week plans something to help improve his English. Nadeem also comes prepared with a book and asks Gerald questions. He knows how to use a teacher!

'We learned about Crossroads through Alzheimer's Society, and when they told us about Nadeem it seemed like a golden opportunity. Gerald is one of the most articulate people I know. He has a very rich vocabulary and still uses it. He can still remember a lot of history. He has a very analytical mind but is engaging with it less now.'

Nadeem, a qualified doctor himself, also enjoys the company of Gerald. He says,

'We chat about lots of things. Gerald is very academic. He's done a lot of work on the British Raj in India so we talk about that, and he recalls his childhood in India and his journey travelling back to the UK with affection.

'It's really interesting as I came from that culture so it's my history. His knowledge is incredible. He may be a little confused when he first starts talking about something, but then slowly he comes round and will tell you everything.

'It's free knowledge. When I want to know something or want to visit places, I don't need to sit at the computer, I just ask Gerald.'

Gerald has also introduced people at the memory club he attends to the Barber Institute of Fine Arts at the University of Birmingham. He said,

They ask us what we want to do at the memory club so I suggested going to the Barber Institute to look at the murals and paintings. I think people can retain images even if they are ill.

'There's a lot to be said for exploring museum resources and I think it would be constructive if staff encouraged groups of people with disabilities to go along.

A positive outlook
Gerald says,

'Having dementia is all tremendously tedious. I have to go to bed and have a kip from time to time and I've lost some of my bounce. But people are very patient with me.

'The memory club lays on entertainment and we're very grateful to people who come and entertain us. I've made some very good mates there and enjoy it as it's not all focused on me. And I'm improving my table tennis.

'My memory is more and more shot to pieces and I'm aware of my limitations, but I have a splendid wife who is constructive and helpful to me beyond any reasonable bounds and I'm very grateful for that.'

Gerald has just finished writing a book about his childhood in India.