Ron is living with vascular dementia. He was first diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment 7 years ago, before receiving a vascular dementia diagnosis 3 years ago. His youngest daughter, who was living with him and his wife at the time of diagnosis, was the first to notice his symptoms.
“My youngest daughter noticed first,” Ron shared. “I’d leave the gas on after cooking and burn my meals even though I was a good cook.”
Ron mentioned that his symptoms of vascular dementia extend mostly around his ability to get lost very easily and balance, as opposed to the memory loss typically associated with the disease.
“My wife doesn’t trust me to go into town on my own now, in case I get lost.”
Ron dealt with the negative emotions many experience when first diagnosed with cognitive impairment.
“I got really depressed. Then I went to Aberdeen and met a group of peers who really changed my outlook on the whole situation. Seeing how they dealt with their diagnosis, how they just got on with it – I knew if they could, I could too. That’s all I really needed, to see a future.”
Following his diagnosis, Ron also felt that people treated him differently. “Suddenly people are speaking to your wife instead of you, which I found very hard,” Ron said.
Ron was determined to make the most of life, and he chose to see his cognitive impairment diagnosis as a turning point.
When Ron later had his vascular dementia diagnosis, he became motivated to do more.
Ron stays very socially active, particularly in creative spaces where he has found an outlet through playwriting.
“I’ve written a couple of plays since I was diagnosed – one has already been on a tour, another will be in November. It’s called Dementia the Musical, and it’s going to Edinburgh, Aberdeen and even to Dundee where I’m from – that was a big deal for me, a Dundee boy having his play shown where he grew up.”
Alongside his musicals, Ron created the first Scottish Dementia arts festival in Inverness in 2023. In 2024, the 2nd festival will be in Edinburgh in other creative arts initiatives like the Dementia Arts Festival, which is being held In November. The annual event aims to raise awareness about dementia and its impact on individuals and communities. It also highlights the importance of arts and creative activities in improving the quality of life for those affected by the condition.
Ron also is the chair of the board of Deepness Dementia Media, an organisation that is run by people with dementia, for people with dementia. Of the board’s 12 members, 9 are living with dementia and the remaining 3 have experience with it. They feel empowered, having the ability to control their own agenda.
Ron shared that the importance of family, having a community of support, as well as keeping active and creative, have helped him live well with dementia.
“In a funny sort of way, dementia’s brought our family together. I now spend more time with my daughter; we even write together. I’ve even met some of her friends and never would have had that opportunity before my diagnosis.