Dementia Support Line
Q&A: Jim Marples, who lives with mixed dementia
Jim in the Isle of Man, aged 73 and living with mixed dementia caused by cerebral amyloid angiopathy, answers our questions.
What’s changed most since your diagnosis?
Travel. I have always travelled for work and pleasure, but it’s not easy for me to travel alone now. It’s not the retirement I had planned.
When I was travelling around a lot, I worked for myself. I wasn’t locked into a company or anything like that – I went where I wanted to work.
I worked for generally insurance related things. It was a great time, I used to go out to Russia and places like that.
Gill, my wife, and I go travelling together quite a lot. We’ve been to lots of places – I love going away! I like to explore new places, I find it exciting to find somewhere new and discover something different.
What would you take to your desert island?
The Best of Neil Diamond CD – I have been a fan for years and seen him live often, though not for a while.
How has Alzheimer’s Society helped you?
I’ve had help with information, contacts, support and visits. When Gill has struggled to understand what’s happening with me and how life is like for me now, the Society has helped her to understand some of that. They also put us in touch with a range of social and other groups, including a dementia café.
What song or tune sums up your life so far?
The Greasy Chip Butty Song, sang at Sheffield United FC matches. Sheffield United has been a constant source of pleasure and frustration! I have made good friends through supporting the club.
What single thing would improve your quality of life?
Improve my memory! It would give me back control.
If you could go back in time, where would you go?
1993, when we moved to the Isle of Man. Golden days for work and socially. It was very different to Sheffield, where we were before.
Part of the reason for moving was a promotion. That gave me more freedom – I could decide where I was going to go, how I was going to do it and all that sort of thing. We formed a good social circle of friends when we came here.
What is your most treasured possession?
Not a possession, but I treasure my wife for her good company.
Answer our questions
If you have dementia and would like to answer our questions for a future article, or you know someone who would, email us at [email protected] to let us know.
Linda
says