Metal Bonding.

[Motu]

This is a story from when I worked in the main workshop of a major hire company,I was employed to take this mans place.

John was a mechanic,and had an accident of some sort,maybe just a stroke...but anyway he suffered a mental disability and was in a home for the mentaly handicapped,undergoing rehabilitation.The workshop manager was a great guy,he was into bikes so we got along - he went often to see John at the rehab,and was told he was a bit of a problem.For rehab they had them doing some woodwork,nailing together little projects like we did as 12 yr olds,just trying to give them some motor dexterity skills.But when John was taken into the workshop he became sullen,and violent if they tried to help him at tasks.Wilkie was there on one of his ''bad'' days,and when he went over to comfort John and saw the dispair in his eyes the answer came as a blow to his heart - he gave him a 6in Cresent from his pocket and John clutched it like a frightend child to a stuffed toy.

Wilkie raced back to work - we used to take stationary motors off pedestrian rollers,concrete cutters and the like and just toss them into our own jumbo bin,bolting on new motors.He got a likely looking motor,a few spanners and screwdrivers and next day took them into the rehab centre and put them in front of John.Wilkie damn near broke down and cried as John snatched the tools off him and began tearing into the 8hp Briggs & Stratton as if his life depended on it.From then on John was first at the workshop door,so he could pull his motor apart and put it back together again,with a few jealous spectators.

[ManDownUnder]

Yeah - good call. I had a Step Father - and Enginner all his life - cut down by bloody Alzheimers.

Give him nuts and bolts and machines to work on - he was a much happier chap...

For those of us with those inclinations, it's hard to beat a day with tools in hand (not being crude for a change)

MDU

[vifferman]

John was a mechanic,and had an accident of some sort,maybe just a stroke...but anyway he suffered a mental disability and was in a home for the mentaly handicapped,undergoing rehabilitation.

That makes me sad.
I worked with Dennis for 8 years, and one day (when he was about the age I am now) he had a stroke. Completely fucked him over in a few minutes. He went from having a good job, to being a completely different person, paralysed down his right side. His wife of less than two years dragged him down to Wellington (where her family was) because she couldn't cope, and felt his family wasn't supportive enough. Then she ditched him.

It's really scary what happens to a person when something like an illness, injury or stroke hits their brain, and they go from being a capable and active member of society to ... not.
And we (in general) don't know about people like this, because they're tucked away in special homes, or head trauma wards, or whatever. There's a lot more of them than you think too...

[ManDownUnder]

And we (in general) don't know about people like this, because they're tucked away in special homes, or head trauma wards, or whatever. There's a lot more of them than you think too...

yup and the people that look after them are awesome (excluding that bitch on the under cover thing recently...)

No end of respect them I'll tell ya!
MDU

[texmo]

Does quality of life for these people become so bad they should be able to end there lives? My grand mother had Alzheimers for about 3.5 years in the end she didnt eat for a few weeks, its not pretty and the damage wasnt just to her but to my whole family it desimated my grandfather and father both of whom were very cloes to her.

[Motu]

One of my best friends (and I don't have many) has had Parkinsons for about 4 years,after a life time of bikes,he's not able to ride his Mach III anymore,or help leaners with their licences,as he possibly helped some on this site.

Another friend of mine had a blood clot thing at high school,he talked like he was drunk - very hard to get respect from others if you are like that.....he was lost of the rocks fishing at Muriwai,but he was a good fisherman,kinda sad to think about it....he thought he was sterile,but left behind a son.

[Pixie]

Does quality of life for these people become so bad they should be able to end there lives? My grand mother had Alzheimers for about 3.5 years in the end she didnt eat for a few weeks, its not pretty and the damage wasnt just to her but to my whole family it desimated my grandfather and father both of whom were very cloes to her.

Old timers disease isn't so bad...you get to meet many new friends every day

[texmo]

STFU.........

[Riff Raff]

yup and the people that look after them are awesome (excluding that bitch on the under cover thing recently...)

No end of respect them I'll tell ya!
MDU

I meet many people like this in my job, and am constantly amazed at the sacrifices people make to look after their loved ones. Interestingly I see very few mentally handicapped people being cared for by their parents - they tend to be in homes, but couples tend to stick together when one of them becomes ill. There's one couple I've been to quite regularly - he had a stroke, can't talk and is bedridden, he's over 6ft while she is a tiny wee thing. But every day she gets him out of bed with the aid of a hoist, changes his nappies, feeds him etc. She's done this for about 8 years now on her own, and yet you can see she obviously still loves him and she has the sweetest nature. It's always a struggle to get him out when he has to go to hospital, but I love going there because it restores my faith in humanity.

[ManDownUnder]

Old timers disease...

I used to know that joke but no longer find it funny - and with respect - this really isn't the thread for it. The guys in here are speaking from real, personal experience and believe me - when you've been there it's not funny at all. It's devastating.

Imagine someone you know and love with their memory wiped, and the incredible daily frustrations they go through. Not sure if they remember you, or not, not sure who they are, not sure what they're doing.

Then in their lucid moments they realise the pain they are inflicting on those around them, and the fear of losing their minds. At this point it is incurable and untreatable so there's no remorse until you die. And that could be years away...

You know you're losing everything - literally everything you know and love, there is nothing you can do, there is no future and you know it. I don't know anywhere else you'll see the kind of incredibly deep fear that appears in an Alzheimer sufferer's eyes from time to time.

It's also a very strange feeling of sadness and relief for those that love them when death finally comes. How can you be glad when your lifelong partner dies, and yet you are. That's a second shock some are not prepared for.

It's not the stuff of jokes (or maybe I'm just too close to it).

As Riff Raff says, the only thing good about it are the incredible examples of human kindness that come to light (sometimes).

Gotta admit I find epileptic jokes of similar appeal.

MDU

[ManDownUnder]

Does quality of life for these people become so bad they should be able to end there lives? My grand mother had Alzheimers for about 3.5 years in the end she didnt eat for a few weeks, its not pretty and the damage wasnt just to her but to my whole family it desimated my grandfather and father both of whom were very cloes to her.

I hear ya. Another aspect is that the decision to end their life would need to be made by someone else - a family member... usually their partner.

I have personal power of attorney over my mother as a result of this incident, and she has given very specific, detailed and legally enforceable instructions on her health care in the event of life prolonging treatments being required - simply to ensure I don't have to chose, and live with the consequences either way.

MDU

[Keystone19]

I find one of the truly sad things is that those people who do care for family members who suffer in this way spend endless hours fighting health and/or welfare agencies for support - financial, physical or emotional. We should work a lot harder on supporting the carers.

[Lou Girardin]

Apparently Ecstacy relieves the symptoms of Parkinsons.
It probably relieves the symptoms of many other things too. I wonder if Pharmac will put it on the subsidy list?

[WRT]

Apparently Ecstacy relieves the symptoms of Parkinsons.
It probably relieves the symptoms of many other things too. I wonder if Pharmac will put it on the subsidy list?

Also known to relieve the symptoms of normality . . .

Wonder how many drugs out there (illicit or not) have affects on things they have never been treated for? Such as asprin treating economy class syndrome?

[kerryg]

I used to know that joke but no longer find it funny - and with respect - this really isn't the thread for it. The guys in here are speaking from real, personal experience and believe me - when you've been there it's not funny at all. It's devastating.

Imagine someone you know and love with their memory wiped, and the incredible daily frustrations they go through. Not sure if they remember you, or not, not sure who they are, not sure what they're doing.

Then in their lucid moments they realise the pain they are inflicting on those around them, and the fear of losing their minds. At this point it is incurable and untreatable so there's no remorse until you die. And that could be years away...

You know you're losing everything - literally everything you know and love, there is nothing you can do, there is no future and you know it. I don't know anywhere else you'll see the kind of incredibly deep fear that appears in an Alzheimer sufferer's eyes from time to time.

It's also a very strange feeling of sadness and relief for those that love them when death finally comes. How can you be glad when your lifelong partner dies, and yet you are. That's a second shock some are not prepared for.

It's not the stuff of jokes (or maybe I'm just too close to it).

As Riff Raff says, the only thing good about it are the incredible examples of human kindness that come to light (sometimes).

Gotta admit I find epileptic jokes of similar appeal.

MDU

Well said MDU. Someone close to me has Alzheimers, and it's not pretty. It was almost comical before we knew what was going on, when she was living a normal independent life. Once I called in to see her, wearing my heavy motorcycle gear, big boots, helmet under my arm. Had a cup of tea and a chat and she commented on how "fashionable" I looked. I was puzzled. Fashionable didn't seem quite the right word.When I left and walked out to my bike she was quite startled and said " did you come on a motorbike??". I thought, hello, there's something not quite right here .The thing which I disturbed me most in its next stage, when she first went into care, was that she would have periods of clarity, during which (the doctor's said) she knew known, to some extent, what was happening to her, where she was, who we were, what she was losing. I reckon that we be worse than awful. The rest of the time she was just, kind of, absent. Now she's absent all the time so far I can tell. But then you don't really know.

There's a poem by Philip Larkin called "The Old Fools" which makes me think of it. Me next maybe??..."we shall find out".