Cognitive Rehabilitation Case Study: Dorothy Using The Bus
Brenda’s Story
A Life Changing Experience
The day my GP told me she thought I had dementia was interesting- no more than that & I’m still interested to experience its development. My recollection of the start of my new life was when I had a car accident – not my fault! The insurance company paid up. I was admitted to hospital overnight to find I had no injuries and was sent home. I went to play bridge the following Monday (as usual) and I found it meant nothing to me. I collapsed on the bridge table and others brought me home. That was the end of my bridge and the end of an era. Good friends and family kept me going. I was frightened to go outside alone and have been brought home by strangers more than once (thank heaven I live in a little village where everyone knows me).
Cognitive Rehabilitation and My Goals
Justin from Partners in Dementia was introduced to me and we embarked together on a Cognitive Rehabilitation journey. One difficulty for me was travelling alone on the bus using the timetable. Without the car, I can’t leave the village. So we started working towards that. Before I could get the bus Justin reminded me what I needed to take, e.g. purse, mobile, diary, keys. We practiced this exercise with Vicki, my carer, when Justin wasn’t there. We walked to the local bus stop, checking for landmarks on the way to remind me how to get there. We repeated the exercises over 6-8 weeks until I didn’t need the reminders. That was a good exercise when broken down into little bits.
How I Felt During Cognitive Rehabilitation
I felt listened to, excited by being independent – the repetition made me aware of what was to come next. Justin’s rehabilitation therapy awakened my memory on how to use public transport. It gave me the confidence to leave the house safely with items necessary for me and walk to the bus stop feeling confident.
It also gave me confidence in walking in my village as I recognised landmarks and a set routine for walking. This has also helped me to use the village shop- again in confidence, feeling safe to leave the house and be able to get home safely. I wasn’t prepared to get on the bus on my own. I was frightened of it. I was scared to go and then to get on the bus. And that was what we overcame really. I walked through the hot coals! There is a name for it- facing up to your demons.
I have to say that it’s the very fact that you’re there. I know that you weren’t always with me. Its like when the doctor visits and and you feel oh thank goodness. It’s a bit like that really. But then you’re OK. Meeting you was opening a window really to show me through the window. There was so much there I needed but didn’t know I needed it. But it was there and it was wonderful and I wanted it. It became available to me.
The Future
My aim was to go to keep fit class on the bus but then I discovered I couldn’t keep fit. There were too many people in the class so couldn’t get the help I needed. It was embarrassing as I couldn’t balance, therefore was not able to join in. I think if the keep fit class was tailored for all I’d still be using the bus.
I intend to go to the singing group. There is a lady down the road who also wants to go so we may go together. I’ll do anything that makes my brain come back and makes the fog go away. I’ve started knitting a sweater so lets see what happens now!!
