Comments on: Contented Dementia? I don’t think so http://richarddnorth.com/2009/10/contented-dementia-i-dont-think-so/ Richard D North welcomes you to his blog. (It links to my old site, now archived.) I am a right-winger, in love with the free market and arguing against the soft-left, liberal, green, PC consensus. Oh, and I'm a conflicted softie. A bit hippy and arty round the edges too. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:37:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: RDN http://richarddnorth.com/2009/10/contented-dementia-i-dont-think-so/comment-page-1/#comment-2212 RDN Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:37:58 +0000 http://richarddnorth.com/?p=805#comment-2212 Dear S, Thanks for that. To deal with the "angry" point first. I hope it isn't true, but if I was sparky then that is because I have for many years been at loggerheads with much of Oliver James's "Britain on the Couch" and "Affluenza" material. In particular, I haven't liked his handling of evidence nor his egotistical tirumphalism (if I may be so sparky as to call it that). Coming to the "Contented Dementia" material, I wanted to point out that many elements of his case are sound and have been known to be so for several or many years (as I know not least from his book). So I think the risk of the OJ writing is that it renders universally applicable what needs to be selectively considered and it suggests an embattled, visionary status for his campaign which would be better framed as a candidate for being useful rather than as a unique bastion of truth in a bad world. Dear S,

Thanks for that.

To deal with the “angry” point first. I hope it isn’t true, but if I was sparky then that is because I have for many years been at loggerheads with much of Oliver James’s “Britain on the Couch” and “Affluenza” material. In particular, I haven’t liked his handling of evidence nor his egotistical tirumphalism (if I may be so sparky as to call it that).

Coming to the “Contented Dementia” material, I wanted to point out that many elements of his case are sound and have been known to be so for several or many years (as I know not least from his book). So I think the risk of the OJ writing is that it renders universally applicable what needs to be selectively considered and it suggests an embattled, visionary status for his campaign which would be better framed as a candidate for being useful rather than as a unique bastion of truth in a bad world.

]]> By: Sylvie Clayden http://richarddnorth.com/2009/10/contented-dementia-i-dont-think-so/comment-page-1/#comment-2211 Sylvie Clayden Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:28:42 +0000 http://richarddnorth.com/?p=805#comment-2211 Hello. I am an Occupational Therapist whose community work in " Health " has driven me to want to specialise in Dementia, find a platform and a voice for these people. I am another advocate of Penny Garner`s approach and am disappointed that the Alzheimers` Society reject it. I feel they hold too much power and would like them to change their name to The Dementia Society as they support all forms of dementia. Anything positive and proactive for this group of people gets my support - we must stop patronising them and medicalising them - acceptance is all and engaging in the SPECAL sense way is positive. The tone of your article is angry, why is this ? Best Wishes Sylvie Clayden Hello. I am an Occupational Therapist whose community work in ” Health ” has driven me to want to specialise in Dementia, find a platform and a voice for these people. I am another advocate of Penny Garner`s approach and am disappointed that the Alzheimers` Society reject it. I feel they hold too much power and would like them to change their name to The Dementia Society as they support all forms of dementia. Anything positive and proactive for this group of people gets my support – we must stop patronising them and medicalising them – acceptance is all and engaging in the SPECAL sense way is positive.
The tone of your article is angry, why is this ?

Best Wishes

Sylvie Clayden

]]> By: paul filsell http://richarddnorth.com/2009/10/contented-dementia-i-dont-think-so/comment-page-1/#comment-2207 paul filsell Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:34:16 +0000 http://richarddnorth.com/?p=805#comment-2207 I have had over thirty years of looking after people with dementia and this book highlights what I have known and practised for many years. It should be compulsory learning for everyone involved in this type of care. I have had over thirty years of looking after people with dementia and this book highlights what I have known and practised for many years.
It should be compulsory learning for everyone involved in this type of care.

]]> By: Dr. Margo Karsten http://richarddnorth.com/2009/10/contented-dementia-i-dont-think-so/comment-page-1/#comment-2203 Dr. Margo Karsten Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:46:07 +0000 http://richarddnorth.com/?p=805#comment-2203 Mr. North, I strongly disagee with your statements. I have researched "SPECAL" care and found empirical studies which demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. I have also implemented the concepts into my own mother's care, and it has had a significantly positive impact on her overall wellbeing. I commend both Oliver and Penny for spending over 20 years evalutating the effectiveness of SPECAL and now publishing their insights for all of us to benefit from! It is one of the most positive books written about dementia, and I recommend it to everyone I meet! Mr. North, I strongly disagee with your statements. I have researched “SPECAL” care and found empirical studies which demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. I have also implemented the concepts into my own mother’s care, and it has had a significantly positive impact on her overall wellbeing. I commend both Oliver and Penny for spending over 20 years evalutating the effectiveness of SPECAL and now publishing their insights for all of us to benefit from! It is one of the most positive books written about dementia, and I recommend it to everyone I meet!

]]> By: L White http://richarddnorth.com/2009/10/contented-dementia-i-dont-think-so/comment-page-1/#comment-2138 L White Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:44:18 +0000 http://richarddnorth.com/?p=805#comment-2138 Whilst I appreciate your argument, I feel you are missing the point. Anyone who reads the book thinking that the activities sound easy or that the results will be easily applied are rather misguided. Nowhere in the book does James state that dealing with dementia is an easy task, moreover, it highlights the fact that managing someone with dementia is time consuming and wearisome. I read the book and the anecdotal nature allowed me to better understand what it would be like to have short term memory loss and appreciate why individuals with dementia act the way they do. He has turned what may be described as a dry medical subject into something with an actual application. Whilst I appreciate your argument, I feel you are missing the point. Anyone who reads the book thinking that the activities sound easy or that the results will be easily applied are rather misguided. Nowhere in the book does James state that dealing with dementia is an easy task, moreover, it highlights the fact that managing someone with dementia is time consuming and wearisome. I read the book and the anecdotal nature allowed me to better understand what it would be like to have short term memory loss and appreciate why individuals with dementia act the way they do. He has turned what may be described as a dry medical subject into something with an actual application.

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