Page 1 of 2
Of help for dementia suffering cyclists
Posted: 19 Dec 2014, 4:15pm
by ukdodger
My son's father-in-law has alzheimers disease and was a keen cyclist out every day on his hybrid. But sadly he cant go out now because he cant find his way back. Laughable but terrible too. It would make life easy if his wife were keen on cycling as well because they could then share a tandem but sadly she isnt. Are there any clubs/organisations in the Uxbridge (East Sussex) area that would be prepared to lead him on the occasional ride. He can follow as my son takes him out when he can. Thanks
Re: Of help for dementia suffering cyclists
Posted: 19 Dec 2014, 4:21pm
by beardy
Sooner or later he is going to do something really unpredictable and possibly resulting in him doing serious self injury. To my mind this is better than him staying at home vegetating but society will then look to blame those looking after him for not doing so adequately.
Re: Of help for dementia suffering cyclists
Posted: 19 Dec 2014, 5:08pm
by hondated
Uxbridge east Sussex can you give me some idea where that is as I cannot find it.
Re: Of help for dementia suffering cyclists
Posted: 19 Dec 2014, 6:37pm
by 531colin
hondated wrote:Uxbridge east Sussex can you give me some idea where that is as I cannot find it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uxbridge
Re: Of help for dementia suffering cyclists
Posted: 19 Dec 2014, 6:51pm
by ukdodger
hondated wrote:Uxbridge east Sussex can you give me some idea where that is as I cannot find it.
Jeez sorry. I always get confused between the two. It's Uckfield
Re: Of help for dementia suffering cyclists
Posted: 19 Dec 2014, 7:48pm
by [XAP]Bob
No idea if he'd be able/willing to follow a satnav?
Re: Of help for dementia suffering cyclists
Posted: 19 Dec 2014, 8:10pm
by 531colin
ukdodger wrote:hondated wrote:Uxbridge east Sussex can you give me some idea where that is as I cannot find it.
Jeez sorry. I always get confused between the two. It's Uckfield
Bit more promising for cycling!
Re: Of help for dementia suffering cyclists
Posted: 19 Dec 2014, 8:18pm
by Psamathe
[XAP]Bob wrote:No idea if he'd be able/willing to follow a satnav?
In my (limited) experience of dementia, things can be going fine and then suddenly something unexpected happens (maybe having to stop at a junction or just something unexpected) and something kicks-off confusion and a lot of things then "come apart". Sometimes it can be having to think about something new that destroys the previous thought thread (i.e. the SatNav becomes completely forgotten about).
e.g. in my experience, the person I am thinking about can on most days operate the DVD remote OK. But if the phone rings, putting the DVD on pause is impossible. The person knows which button it is, but having to switch attention to the phone seems to destroy the ability to remember the remote control operation.
Of course a lot depends at what stage the person is at (and loads of other factors).
Ian
Re: Of help for dementia suffering cyclists
Posted: 19 Dec 2014, 8:41pm
by ukdodger
[XAP]Bob wrote:No idea if he'd be able/willing to follow a satnav?
That's a thought but I think he might be too far gone to remember to look.
Re: Of help for dementia suffering cyclists
Posted: 20 Dec 2014, 9:41am
by bogmyrtle
Use of Sat Nav requires too many thought processes for a dementia sufferer and is likely to add to the confusion, if, as you say he even thinks to even switch it on.
Re: Of help for dementia suffering cyclists
Posted: 20 Dec 2014, 2:46pm
by merseymouth
Hi There, Please try to understand the problems involved with Dementis, not merely say they won't remember to switch things et al! The variation of what issues & even when or how often they occur makes Dementia a very difficult area to make a simple one size fits all suggestion!
For myself, I would not like to be riding on solo machines with someone who has such issues, I know too well the impromptu nature of decision making errors that can crop up, not good for any of us!
For me, a tandem tricycle would be first choice, with myself as steersman. I speak as one who lost 2 parents to the curse. Solo bicycles and tricycles are not a safe or sensible option. MM
Re: Of help for dementia suffering cyclists
Posted: 20 Dec 2014, 3:06pm
by ukdodger
merseymouth wrote:Hi There, Please try to understand the problems involved with Dementis, not merely say they won't remember to switch things et al! The variation of what issues & even when or how often they occur makes Dementia a very difficult area to make a simple one size fits all suggestion!
For myself, I would not like to be riding on solo machines with someone who has such issues, I know too well the impromptu nature of decision making errors that can crop up, not good for any of us!
For me, a tandem tricycle would be first choice, with myself as steersman. I speak as one who lost 2 parents to the curse. Solo bicycles and tricycles are not a safe or sensible option. MM
Noted. Thanks.
Re: Of help for dementia suffering cyclists
Posted: 20 Dec 2014, 3:40pm
by hondated
ukdodger That's Uckfield that's better you got me confused there. Given this time of year lets see February out of the way and review the situation then as living in Eastbourne I am not a million miles away from him.
I understand what everyone is saying about the dangers and changing in his personality and don't disagree with those views and others expressed at all but my initial reaction is if we can get him on the Cookoo Trail and just riding down and back to the café which is along there we would be minimising the dangers and he'd be back on his bike. Its just a thought.
So revisit this thread at the end of February and we can investigate it a bit more
Re: Of help for dementia suffering cyclists
Posted: 20 Dec 2014, 11:31pm
by Cunobelin
merseymouth wrote:Hi There, Please try to understand the problems involved with Dementis, not merely say they won't remember to switch things et al! The variation of what issues & even when or how often they occur makes Dementia a very difficult area to make a simple one size fits all suggestion!
For myself, I would not like to be riding on solo machines with someone who has such issues, I know too well the impromptu nature of decision making errors that can crop up, not good for any of us!
For me, a tandem tricycle would be first choice, with myself as steersman. I speak as one who lost 2 parents to the curse. Solo bicycles and tricycles are not a safe or sensible option. MM
The problem is those moments of confusion and where they happen.
A above, if they are on a solo machine then if they become unsure at a point where it compromises their safety then it can be a real issue.
Some motorists are nor the most understanding of road users and all that is needed is either the use of a horn, or verbal abuse to exacerbate the situation - an off road solution such as the Cuckoo Trail may be an option, but the unpredictability of pedestrians, dogs and children may still make this a difficult environment
Before making any financial investment be aware that trikes especially tandem trikes are a completely different beast to ordinary bikes, they are affected by camber and riding one is not intuitive if you have ridden a normal bike
"Charlotte's Tandems" may be worth contacting to see if they can offer advice, help or even loan you a machine to see if it works for you
Re: Of help for dementia suffering cyclists
Posted: 20 Dec 2014, 11:50pm
by ukdodger
Cunobelin wrote:merseymouth wrote:Hi There, Please try to understand the problems involved with Dementis, not merely say they won't remember to switch things et al! The variation of what issues & even when or how often they occur makes Dementia a very difficult area to make a simple one size fits all suggestion!
For myself, I would not like to be riding on solo machines with someone who has such issues, I know too well the impromptu nature of decision making errors that can crop up, not good for any of us!
For me, a tandem tricycle would be first choice, with myself as steersman. I speak as one who lost 2 parents to the curse. Solo bicycles and tricycles are not a safe or sensible option. MM
The problem is those moments of confusion and where they happen.
A above, if they are on a solo machine then if they become unsure at a point where it compromises their safety then it can be a real issue.
Some motorists are nor the most understanding of road users and all that is needed is either the use of a horn, or verbal abuse to exacerbate the situation - an off road solution such as the Cuckoo Trail may be an option, but the unpredictability of pedestrians, dogs and children may still make this a difficult environment
Before making any financial investment be aware that trikes especially tandem trikes are a completely different beast to ordinary bikes, they are affected by camber and riding one is not intuitive if you have ridden a normal bike
"Charlotte's Tandems" may be worth contacting to see if they can offer advice, help or even loan you a machine to see if it works for you
Yes I can see the problems. On a parallel with a taking a child on the road. Dont know what the answer is.