A Foreglen family will be marking the second anniversary of their mother’s death by doing the Foyle Memory Walk to raise awareness of dementia and money for Alzheimer’s Society.
The Mullan family will be walking in memory of their mother Teresa Mullan who died with dementia on September 16, 2014, almost two years to the day before the Foyle Memory Walk on Sunday, September 18.
“The Memory Walk will be a lovely way to remember mammy, and also a way to give something back to the Alzheimer’s Society, who helped us so much,” her daughter Pauline Cunningham said.
The Alzheimer’s Society provided much needed home respite care to give the family a break, enabling them to look after their mother in her own home for the three years of her illness.
“We were with Mammy day and night, it was an honour to be able to care for our mother after she’d done so much for us, however, it was a breath of fresh air when Raymond from the Alzheimer’s Society would come to visit. Those six hours a week meant so much to our family. Knowing Mammy was safe and happy in Raymond’s company gave us the opportunity to have time off for ourselves.
“In the early stages Raymond was great at helping Mammy with her reading and always enjoyed her singing. He helped with these everyday activities, which helped keep Mammy entertained throughout the morning. In the later stages he provided great company and support. It was an invaluable service to our family and we greatly appreciated everything Alzheimer’s Society provided for us.”
Teresa was 81 when she suffered from a stroke, but astonished medical staff with her swift recovery. “She loved singing to other patients on the ward, which the doctors said probably aided her quick recovery.” The family said they were not surprised to hear this as their mother was well known for her singing in Foreglen, never professionally but always for pleasure.
While Teresa made a quick recovery in hospital, upon coming home the family were soon to notice changes in their mother’s condition. “She was becoming increasingly forgetful and restless, especially at night time. Unfortunately her mobility also gradually declined.”
Teresa was diagnosed with vascular dementia. The family started to care for their mother around the clock throughout the duration of her illness with the help of the carers. “In the later stages, verbal communication became very difficult for Mammy, as did everyday routines such as getting out of bed. However, we believe that Mammy was thankfully still able to recognise us and was mostly aware of her surrounding home environment.”
After Teresa passed away, Pauline attended a 12 week course on dementia as a way to gain a greater understanding about what her mother had been through. She encourages anyone who is caring for a person with dementia to find out as much as they can about the condition and to sign up for Alzheimer’s Society’s new six-week free training courses for people who provide any form of unpaid care for a person with dementia. “It helps to understand their journey as a dementia sufferer and also how to look after yourself. Caring is very rewarding, but it can be stressful at times.”
Many family members are signed up to do Foyle Memory Walk, and they are looking forward to the day as a celebration of their mother’s life together with other people who have similar experience. The family will be among more than 100,000 people walking across the Northern Ireland, Wales and England with the common goal of beating dementia.
To find out more about the Foyle Memory Walk which starts at Ebrington Park on Sunday 18th September please visit https://www.memorywalk.org.uk/find-a-walk/foyle-memory-walk/ and sign up today to walk for a world without dementia. Registration needs to be done online ahead of the walk, although people without internet access can call 0300 330 5452.
Walkers can choose between a 2.5 km route and a longer 10 km walk. Volunteers are also needed for the event and can register at www.memorywalk.org.uk
For details of the free six-week dementia training course for informal caregivers, please call Alzheimer’s Society on 028 90 387480 or e-mail NICaregiver.Training@alzheimers.org.uk
If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team. Between 9am and 5pm Monday to Sunday please call 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Between 5pm and midnight please call or text 07825 711978. Or you can email john.gill@derrynews.net at any time.