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Was told last night that one of the regulars on our council run ride has just been diagnosed with early dementia. Bit of a surprise but explains a couple of things.
We obviously want to support them as much and as long as we can - they've said in the past that the rides and company have replaced the camaraderie they used to get at work before retiring. Obviously we need to consider additional any risks and safety for them and the rest of the group.
Anyone got any experience/advice of this they can share please?
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There was a thing in the CUK mag a couple of years back about a chap who was still out riding (presumably not unaccompanied) on the road despite advancing dementia.
Dementia does not mean you lose the right to make choices and take risks. The key is do they understand the risk
My suggestion would be to talk to them and gain some understanding of what they want to do. My guess would be that familiar routes would be better. Perhaps make sure they are not the first or the last in the group. Keep things as normal as possible for them. Do not treat them as a child tempting tho that may be.
Acknowledge their illness but do not make it a big issue or the main topic of conversation. If they get something wrong then do not argue with them.  Divert the conversation away from the issue if you can. Â
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Dementia effects everyone differently. I looked after a lady with huge memory loss but she still had all her reasoning power and still was 100% physically
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PM me if you want to discuss specific issues. I worked with folk with dementia for many years
Thanks both, especially TJ. I'll feed it back to the organiser.Â
His bike control and spatial awareness has got a little worse over the last few months, so we have been encouraging him to do easier terrain anyway. The diagnosis just made the ride leaders think "oh, that would explain it". Fitness wise he is still fine.
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Left field, but have you considered tandems as an option?Â
Dumb question but do you (or any of the organisers) know any of his family members to chat to? In addition to everything else, just to gently get a sense from them of any considerations/ concerns they may have?Â
There was a thing in the CUK mag a couple of years back about a chap who was still out riding (presumably not unaccompanied) on the road despite advancing dementia.
Having had a chance to Google I think this is the chap https://www.cyclinguk.org/cycle-magazine/meet-our-members-peter-berry
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