'Life book' to help Alzheimer's patients

A charity dedicated to Alzheimer's disease has dreamt up an innovative idea which could help to reassure sufferers and help them to remember.

Alzheimer's Support, a charity in Trowbridge, has created the concept of a 'Life Book', which comprises both a photo album and a scrapbook to help patients remember important occasions and events in their life.

The Alzheimer's charity helps patients to put the Life Book together themselves, picking out key pieces of information from their lives.

This is Wiltshire interviewed the most recent Alzheimer's patient to compile a Life Book, 75-year-old Don Gliddon, and also spoke to his wife.

Mr Gliddon has a common form of Alzheimer's and is cared for by his wife, Margo.

She told the website: "Being a carer for someone with Alzheimer's is extremely physically and mentally stressful. I have to be with Don at all times. If he is left on his own he suffers extreme anxiety and descends into a wild panic. At night he wanders around the house and looks through cupboards.

"It is devastating to have to deal with this and I am extremely grateful that I have Alzheimer's Support to help me."

Brian Collins, who works for Alzheimer's Support and helped Mr Gliddon to assemble his Life Book, said: "We had a great time doing it and Don responded really well."


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