Q&A: Jitendra Kaumar Gupta

What’s changed most since your diagnosis?

Some people are very friendly, very good, but some have been very different – their attitude has been completely different, they see me in a very different way.

Probably they don’t understand what I’m going through, and sometimes I feel more depressed. People should be more friendly.

What would you take to your desert island?

I wouldn’t take a CD or book at all. I’d rather take a good friend with me. I’m not interested in CDs or books – if my wife or a friend is with me then I’ll be alright.

How has Alzheimer’s Society helped you?

The Society has helped in giving me confidence. I meet other people in the same scenario and then I find I’m not the only person suffering with this.

We can talk to each other about what we’re doing and how we’re feeling.

Judith from Alzheimer’s Society keeps calling me every week to ask about my welfare and see if I need help with anything. She’s very sympathetic. It gives me more confidence that somebody is behind me and with me if I need to deal with something.

What song or tune sums up your life so far?

I usually like Indian music, old Indian music. Classical music and film music from the 70s, 80s and 90s. I can’t pick one song though!

What single thing would improve your quality of life? 

When you have dementia, you need a good, close friend with you, whether it’s a wife or someone else.

You need somebody to talk to and share your feelings with, someone you have a good relationship with. I’m lucky I already have that – I can only think of the life that I have.

What is your most treasured possession?

My confidence. If you have got confidence in yourself then you can achieve anything, you can talk with people, meet with people.

I’ve seen people in the same age group, they’ve done so much in life, but they still don’t have confidence.

Confidence is the most treasured possession, that’s what I feel.