On day three of World Alzheimer's Month #WAM2018 series of #Hello my name is blogs, we share one of our Taiwan members stories of her life living with dementia. Thank you Amy, for allowing us to share it here, and for so actively working with Taiwan and TADA with their incredible work on uman rights for peoplel with dementia and their families, and to foster and empower self advocates in Taiwan.
My second life
This video is the story of Mdm Hui-Mei Su (Amy in English, although she is also known as Aunty Su in Taiwan), who was diagnosed with younger onset dementia in 2012, at the age of 62. Her supportive husband Mr. Chuan-Der Hsu (Peter) is by her side throughout most of the video.
Amy is a member of DAI, and the very first self advocate in Taiwan. This video briefly shares her story of diagnosis, and how she felt so devastated, she wanted to end her own life; however she did not want to burden her husband, and her daughter also pleaded with her not to. It shows a rare insight into the lived experience of someone diagnosed with dementia in Taiwan, and the transformation from devastation, to one of living a 'new life'.
Amy is an artist, and although she can no longer paint the style of art prior to her dementia, she still produces beautiful art. She may no longer be able to work out how to use the MRT (train system), and gets lost sometimes on her scooter, and even as trouble cooking now. We hope to feature some of her at our online DAI Art Exhibition later this month, which you can register for now.
She often can no longer remember the names of her friends and many other things, and there are other changes to her abilities, she can still live a very positive life, in spite of the sadness and changes initially brought on by dementia.
In the beginning it was not easy, but she has chosen to become very active, and living positively again; Amy has become as involved as much as she possibly can, through continued art, singing classes, other new learning, gardening, and many other activities. Since April 2017, she has also become an active self advocate in Taiwan.
By focusing on what she can still do, including new learning such as singing a song in English, like almost all self advocates, Amy has been re-empowered to live positively again, and is now speaking publicly, advocating for better services and support for all people with dementia in Taiwan.