Louise Thomson with her family.

Strain on the family: A daughter shocked by what she has seen

We meet Louise Thomson, who had to care for her mother while raising a young family.

Louise ThomsonLouise began to notice changes in her mum's behaviour around seven years ago

When Louise Thomson moved her young family from Essex to Surrey, she assumed that her mum Teresa, who lived nearby, would be on hand to offer support with childcare.

But those plans, and many other hopes for a settled family life, have been turned upside down by Teresa’s dementia – a rare form called posterior cortical atrophy (PCA). Its progression has been dramatic, and Louise is not only raising two children without her mother’s support but also caring for Teresa herself.

Peaceful and bubbly 

Teresa, 56, was a bodybuilder who had owned a gym business and worked as a surgical nurse. Art was her great passion, particularly painting with acrylics.

‘She was kind, peaceful and bubbly,’ says Louise, who lives in Redhill with her partner Mark and children Oliver, 10, and Miley, 4.

‘She became a vegetarian because she didn’t want to hurt animals.’

It was around seven years ago, when Teresa was just 49, that Louise first noticed changes in her mum’s behaviour.

Teresa started letting herself into Louise’s house on her own, which she had never done previously.

She would also send very short replies to lengthy text messages, or even respond with a call, which again was unusual.

There were further problems a couple of years later when Teresa was looking after Oliver. This included Teresa forgetting to give him the lunch Louise had provided.

‘He’d come home hungry and I’d notice his lunch box was still full,’ says Louise, 32.

‘Other times, Mum would forget that she was supposed to be having him.’

A doctor suggested that Teresa may have a thyroid problem, but tests came back clear, while they also mentioned ‘brain fog’ caused by the menopause.

Louise kept asking Teresa if she was OK, but her mum insisted it was just the menopause.

Teresa’s partner Michael also told Louise not to worry.

‘The more I pressed, the more angry and upset Mum got,’ says Louise. ‘I felt I was being this awful, naggy person.’

‘After Mum lost her job, the occupational therapist said she had anxiety and depression, so I just ran with that.’

Turning point

As Teresa’s only child, Louise was already feeling the pressure of responsibility when, in 2016, she arrived at Teresa’s house to take her out for a pamper day.

‘I got there and found her walking around the house naked,’ says Louise. ‘She was acting like there was nothing wrong.’

‘We went to the doctor’s and Mum was crying and saying, “I know I’m going to die.”’

Teresa failed a series of neurological tests and couldn’t even recognise Louise. A brain scan at hospital in June 2016 then revealed that she had PCA, caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

It was later suggested that Teresa had experienced a transient ischaemic attack – also known as a mini-stroke – a couple of months previously, which had quickened the onset of her dementia.

‘There have been so many occasions where I can’t talk afterwards because I can’t believe what just happened,' says Louise.

Michael gave up work immediately to become Teresa's main carer, while the family employed carers to support Teresa four times a day.

Teresa’s behaviour could be challenging, such as chasing Louise around the house, swearing and screaming at her. Teresa has also experienced hallucinations.

‘It’s been hell,’ says Louise. ‘There have been so many occasions where I can’t talk afterwards because I can’t believe what just happened.’

Louise Thomson with her family.

Louise had assumed that her mum would be on hand to help with childcare

Family pressures

Although it became clear that Teresa’s needs would be better met in a care home, it was a struggle to find an appropriate place that would accept her.

Following another stroke and a four-month spell in hospital, Teresa entered what Louise describes as an ‘amazing’ home last September.

However, Teresa has since had seizures that have reduced her quality of life.

‘She can’t hold her own head up, and her arms and hands are fused in a particular position. She’s out of bed for two hours a day,’ says Louise.

‘Every time she has a seizure it takes something away.

‘There is sometimes a glimmer of who she used to be, like this certain movement she does with her shoulders, but it’s less and less now.’

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The time and energy needed to support her mum led to Louise giving up her job as a childminder while continuing to raise a young family.

‘I was always doing admin work – forms, assessments, appointments,’ she says.

‘It was a real strain on home life, really bad. I had a meltdown and was put on antidepressants.’

Her son Oliver has also been affected by Teresa’s illness.

‘They had a close relationship, so he’s been down about it,’ says Louise.

‘He says he misses his nanny but that he doesn’t want to see her because she looks “dead”.’

Louise has received strong support from friends, family and the church where Mark works as a caretaker, as well as other members of a PCA group on Facebook.

‘I would work as a team with Michael on the admin, and had friends or family who could help look after the children,’ she says. ‘I’m also really lucky that Mark is so good – we’ve been through a lot together.’

Louise Thomson with her partner Mark

Louise and partner Mark have been through a lot together

Not alone

Louise is frank about the emotional toll that her mum’s dementia has had on her.

‘I got really angry a few times,’ she says. ‘I’ve been through cervical cancer and miscarriages, then finally got pregnant and moved here to be closer to Mum, and this happened. It pissed me off.

‘I’ve also got upset, thinking that one day this will be me, which is selfish really. But I’ve turned down genetic tests – I don’t want to know.’

‘I don’t feel like it’s my Mum anymore, to me they aren’t the same person,’ says Louise.

Louise feels able to be so open about her experiences because Teresa has become so far removed from who she once was.

‘I don’t feel like it’s my Mum anymore, to me they aren’t the same person,’ she says. ‘It’s such a shock to go from one to the other.’

Louise hopes that sharing her experiences will help raise awareness of PCA and the challenges it brings. This includes how different its initial symptoms, such as problems with vision, can be.

‘Dementia isn’t just a forgetful old person – I was so shocked by some of the PCA symptoms,’ she says. ‘I hope people might read my story and think, “I’m not alone.”’

Next steps

Dementia together magazine: June/July 18

Dementia together magazine is for everyone in the dementia movement and anyone affected by the condition.
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Dementia together magazine is for everyone in the dementia movement and anyone affected by the condition.
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9 comments

My mom was diagnosed with PCA a year and a half ago. She ate well, and jogged most of her life. She went from small changes, to needing help every morning bathing, toileting and dressing. After three months of this, she moved in to our home. Mom started hallucinating, not sleeping and not being able to feed or hydrate herself. This (to date) has been the most challenging event in my life. We tried everything. So little is known about PCA and it’s different for everyone. Medications seemed to make her condition worse. She went from being the most positive person I knew, the threatening suicide. She constantly hallucinated and was scared people were trying to kill her. I woke up one more, completely exhausted and had a breakdown. I told my husband I could no longer take care of her. 20 minutes later my mom fainted while sitting on the toilet. She was taken to the hospital. She was seen by many doctors and they all said the same thing, she was beyond any help I could give her. She began to say that we were all imposters and I was her “fake” son and my dad and her sister were also “fake impostures.” Her ordeal in the hospital lasted a week. Every day she declined very quickly. She was sent to hospice and passed away, peacefully surrounded by her sons and husband. She was only 62. Mom had a life expectancy of 8-10 years but only lived for a year and a half and I’m so thankful for that. She was my hero, but she was so scared her last three months. My advice is this: this disease is so much bigger than anything you’ll read or hear about. The person living with this disease is usually living terrified and helpless. You cannot talk sense into them. It’s beyond anything we can do for them at home. Quickly a person with this disease will need 24/7 professional care. We tried to get her in a care facility, but her primary was so back logged we couldn’t get the letter fast enough. Also, the care facilities have to have room for the person, and all the good ones are full and will waitlist you. The disease moves quickly and before you know it your loved one is not safe at your home no matter what you do. I don’t wish this disease on my worst enemy. It was terrifying watching my mom live with this.
The frank account is a great help - no happy ending but it reduces the feeling of isolation when a loved one is so changed by this horrible illness.

Both my parents have developed rapid onset of dementia at the same time and are now in the same care home together and live 3 hours away
Mum sounds normal on the phone sometimes until you realise she is actually just talking rubbish...dad can barely hold a conversation
And all their assets are now going in their care
Devastating...but at least they're safe in there now ...v traumatic with falls accidents and horrific incidents previously
My mum has seizures about once every 6 months where she nearly dies then bounces right back ...one was on xmas day last year x

Just been to Aldi where I saw my husband who has been suffering g from Alzheimer’s for three years put a full roll of plastic bags under his jumper. I told him to our them back and received terrible abuse, while shocked shoppers looked on in disgust. He now refuses to talk to me but tomorrow morning will be his normal caring self, for about five mins. Living and caring for someone with dementia is sheer unrelenting torture.

Dementia is soul destroying, it makes you grieve for the person even though in body they are still here, we have been going through it for 2years now and its starting to affect me and my mom alot. The nursing home think my nan is hilarious and everybody loves her but this isnt my nan anymore they dont understand how we come away crying and distressed every single time we visit asif we should be greatful she is still here when all is happening is she is suffering over and over and every infection, every seizure every fall a piece of her is taken again and we lose the person she once was. My nan was sectioned for 6 months on the day of my grandads funeral he died jan 2018 whilst all of this was going on. Its 2years today since it all began and she had a heart attack, then 2strokes and a bleed on the brain within 4months. Your so strong for what you do and have done your mom would be proud of you it takes alot of strength and fight to cope with dementia, not knowing if this is going to be the last day or then feeling bad for wanting the suffering to be over and life to start again :( its bad enough for the person going through it but also for everyone around emotionally connected to that person. It is pure torture, hopefully 1day there will be a cure.

Bit late I know but just to add.
You can have a houseful of people; friends; family etc yet
As as carer full stop you are very much alone emotionally. Its hard what ever your situation but having distraction of bringing up children will bring joy and highs. Plus some people have 2 parents with complex medical health issues & Dementia in 2 different places to support like in my case.
Eat well; exercise and try to remain positive. Its not going to be forever and does not come naturally to all.
Look at the difference you make to someones life and the alternative for loved ones if you are not there to support them. :)

As much as I have sympathy I am a single person, a wife, looking after my husband.... I have no one to share my emotional problems with and am ashamed that I can't seem to cope on a 24/7 basis. Mental health problems affect carers whether they are bringing up children or not. We need to show plight of ALL carers to the unseeing, unknowing world.

Hi Wendy, thank you for your comment and for sharing your experience. We do try to cover a wide range of personal stories on the blog.
If you would like any advice or support please get in touch with our Helpline. One of our advisers would be very happy to have a chat: 0300 222 11 22

Thank you for sharing your story. It does help with the ‘I’m not alone feeling’.
My Mum was sectioned for her dementia and they’re just about to move her from a 2 to a 3 to keep her beyond the four weeks.
It’s brutal to watch, and I cling on for the times when you see her, the loving, amazing mum she always was.
It’s a cruel, scary and unpredictable disease. My heart goes out to anyone, or any families dealing with it. X