Peter is a man living with Alzheimer’s disease. He looks after his health by eating well and getting out in the garden. He likes to help around the house, washing the dishes and keeping things tidy. Peter has great support from his wife, children and grandchildren.
Transcript
[Beginning of recorded material]
[visual: Peter looks at his photo album]
Peter: My name's Peter Calendar and I'm a retired Salvation Army officer, and I've been married to Sandra for 50 years.
[visual: Peter walks with Sandra]
Peter: I'm careful in what I eat. Sandra's a good cook and she prepares us good stuff. We eat out every now and then, and we've got some places we like going to. To get a diagnosis of Alzheimer's is a bit of a kick, and I did wonder, "Why me?" But then I accepted the fact that anybody can get it.
[visual: Peter writes in his notebook]
Peter: And I've had lots, and lots, and lots of good things happen to me, haven't complained about them, so perhaps it was my turn to get one.
[visual: Peter reads a book, plays a game on the iPad]
Peter: Yeah, some of the things I do, reading books and games on the computer. I like to keep my brain running.
[visual: Peter helps Sandra with the dishes]
Peter: I love getting my sleeves rolled up, and doing the washing up, and putting away.
[visual: Peter does the gardening]
Peter: And I like getting in the garden and getting it tidied up. And I want to be active all the time. I don't want to be stuck away somewhere and not able to be able to express myself, and help wherever it's needed.
[visual: Peter works in the garage]
Peter: I did have a session with the Men's Shed for a year or more, and I found that very good. But then I gave it a rest because there were so many other things I was doing. But we've spoken this week, and we've found out that Men's Shed is starting up again, and I'm going to make it go for it.
It might be a starting place for you to do sort of things I've done. It's not the end of everything. We start to think it is, but then some things happen, some good things happen. We find ourselves surrounded by good people, that's helpful.
[visual: Peter and Sandra in the garden, photos of Peter’s children and grandchildren.]
Peter: And being a parent, it means that I've got children, grandchildren to impart an extended family, and that's a great help to be part of that. Yeah.
[Title card: With special thanks to Peter and Sandra]
[Dementia Australia logo]
[Title card: National Dementia Hotline 1800 100 500. For language assistance call 131 450]
[Title card: Visit dementia.org.au]
[END of recorded material]
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