A woman with dementia realised something was awry when she found a familiar work task too challenging, a common sign of the condition. Gail received her diagnosis in 2019 and her heartbreaking story has re-emerged following the news that Birds of a Feather’s Pauline Quirke is also battling the disease.
Pauline’s husband, Steven Sheen, shared that she is stepping back from public life due to her health issues and Maurice Gran, who co-created Birds of a Feather, disclosed that Pauline’s condition “had progressed”. Gail understands the challenges of facing this illness at a young age; she was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s at just 54 years old.
Her wake-up call came during a routine appointment in 2019, but the turning point was when she could no longer manage a simple business task. On the My Life with Dementia podcast, Gail recounted her experience running a business that sold customised teddy bears.
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Hailing from near Burnley, Gail said: “My mum used to make the clothing for the bears and then I would embroider on to the bear’s top a message for that person – happy birthday, happy anniversary.
“My recall memory was beginning to fail me and I noticed people were ringing up, giving me orders over the telephone and I was writing things down, putting the phone down, and thinking, ‘were that right?’
“I realised that I couldn’t retain the messages that were being said to me so I started letting the answering machine kick in. John (her husband) realised that I was doing this and he had questioned me on why the answering machine was always on. I just kept saying it is because I’m busy – ‘I’m busy, I’m busy John, I’m busy.’ And it was because I couldn’t retain the information.”
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ITV)
After visiting a doctor and struggling with tasks like drawing a clock face and remembering an address, Gail was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Despite initial feelings of confusion, sadness, and anger, she has come to terms with her condition, referring to dementia as her “little side kick” and choosing to focus on what she can do rather than what she can’t.
The NHS outlines common early symptoms of dementia, such as memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and finding familiar tasks challenging—symptoms Gail faced. Other signs include trouble following conversations, confusion about time and place, and mood changes.
For those concerned about potential dementia, further information is available on the NHS website or through a GP consultation.
Source: Mirror
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