On Day 26 of Dementia Awareness Month 2020, Bill Yeates shares with us why he is glad he found DAI. Thank you Bill, we are all glad you found DAI too.
My name is Bill Yeates and I live on the northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. I was diagnosed with Younger Onset Alzheimer’s Disease last year, at the age of 59.
As devastating as this diagnosis was, it has also opened my eyes, as I now need to create a new life based on new dreams and new hopes for the future.
I am glad that I found DAI, because without their support and encouragement, I doubt whether I would have had the strength, motivation and will power needed to make this journey. In saying this, I believe that there is something very special in being able to talk freely with other DAI members, about the challenges, issues and demands that we face on a daily basis.
To me, it's like being amongst your closest friends – where everyone is non-judgemental, great listeners and full of compassion.
It reminds me of a definition of a true friend that I recently came across.
Someone who has your back, no matter what happens.
I am glad that I found DAI because I have learnt that being an advocate is more than just telling your story. For me, it’s also about creating an awareness and acceptance in our community and fighting for the rights of people with mental illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia, on a national and global scale. Of which DAI has an outstanding record, that is internationally recognised.
Finally, I am glad that I found DAI because through my involvement in the Brain Health group, they have been instrumental in motivating me to create my own strategy, in terms of how I can manage my Alzheimer’s Disease on a daily basis.
Based on the concept of positivity, and using the dimensions of Brain, Heart, Mind and Soul, I have created my own ‘leaves of positivity’ which represent the actions and changes to my life that I have made. When joined together, they form my Tree of Awakening your Positivity.
As a DAI member, if you are interested in learning about this approach, please go to my website...
Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story about why I am glad that I found DAI. I hope that this important month of September, brings everyone, alot of hope, joy and happiness for the future.
Since you’re here…
… we’re asking readers like you to support our members, by donating to our organizaton.
With more than 50 million people living with dementia, and the Coronavisus pandemic causing everyone to operate in a virtual world, our work has never been more important.
Every contribution, however big or small, is so valuable to our work of supporting people diagnosed with any type of dementia to live more positively, and with a greater sense of hope. Thank you.