Young Onset Dementia: A Carer’s Perspective

Jagmeet (Jag) Bhogal shares his journey caring for his wife, Carol Lynn Gonsalves, who was diagnosed with Frontal Temporal Dementia at the age of 44. Jag shares some very poignant realizations and challenges he faced while caring for Carol Lynn in a most honest and vulnerable way. Jag highlights the importance of supporting care partners of those living with dementia.

[@Ali-fq3nz]

I’d like to thank this guy for sharing his story and wish him all the best for the future..

[@jonnymoney1071]

Sorry for your loss brother. Keep fighting. You are a hero to me ❤

[@GloriaLoftus]

I am scared too and feel I'm in a nightmare. My husband has dementia. I am so sorry for your loss. You said it perfectly..dealing with having to do everything and losing a partners help and cope with the emotional feelings of grief.

[@kellialexander4080]

I too am taking care of my husband with early onset. Trying to get prepared for this journey.

[@lauriemapplebeck1286]

I have lost three siblings to this terrible disease! Now I am 70, I get a little frightened. Thank God I believe.! I am still fine but I do have some loss of where I have forgotten why I stood up and then trying to remember why! It comes back to me later. I continue to read a lot and do games that forces my brain to think.

[@leecowell8165]

A good puzzle for that, Laurie is Sokoban. I have it under linux but I'm certain there's a freebee windows version. Very challenging though even with average IQ. I believe its normal to have what Floyd once said in one of their albums "A momentary lapse of reason". I believe its perfectly normal at our ages (I'm 80) to be a bit forgetful at times. The key though is location, location, location. you should not be losing ANY semblance of where you are and where you're going. Also if you start locking your keys in the vehicle when you've never done that before that is reason for concern and especially if it becomes habitual. For example I've always been rather absent-minded which causes me to pass up my turns because my brain is on "autopilot". But I have no issues with correcting errant ways AND this is something I've always done. Nothing new that I keep doing it, see?

[@francesbernard2445]

Being constientious about eating a balanced diet while sticking to a routine when it comes to getting enough physical activity may help you avoid dementia. Have you ever had genetic testing done? There are genetic caused condtions like for example Marfan Syndrome which can be treated soon enough to avoid complications like Dementia.

[@Luciddreamer007]

Moms 88 with dementia- we know what to expect As her caregiver I sympathize with your struggle , it must be excruciatingly difficult 😞 Your a frigin’ Saint Hang in there I love you 💕

[@ronaldelliott4373]

As a caregiver myself, this hit every emotion and point of concern that consumes my life at present. Thank you for sharing. It helps knowing my own understanding isn’t out of step. Regards

[@stevepeppers560]

Fighting this with mom. Had to live with and care for her 2 years. Debilitating, overwhelming, depressing and tiring. It kills 2 at the time. My brain is mush. Keep fighting folks. Rough and getting worse.

[@debby891]

Thank you for your honesty and so sorry 💔. I’ve been my moms caregiver for 5+ years, Alzheimer’s and doing it 24/7. You’re so right, it is physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting and most of us can’t afford caregivers to give us time to just relax. I’ve been in a zoom support group for 3 years and no one understands unless they live it

[@yesterdayitrained]

Thank you for your honesty. I cannot imagine how difficult it is to lose your wife this way. You have helped many others by sharing your experience.

[@deniseg-hill1730]

My Dad had age related dementia from the age of 96 so we were very lucky. It happened very fast. He died 43 days before his 100th birthday in 2022. We had a live in carer interspersed with my sisters. It was the night time thst was very tiring because he didnt sleep much at all and would talk very loudly for hours. He stil recognised us all

[@dgator3599]

I'm so sorry you and your loved ones had to endure this awful disease.

[@Kevinttvv]

I can relate to your exact story. We took care of the most wonderful person on earth. Everything you said happened to us. RIP MOM you were so amazing giving and not only spiritual but a spiritual teacher. She was truly amazing.😢 Your are no longer suffering and with the god lord now ❤

[@katie0303]

Thanks for sharing. It's a sad story. May her memory be a blessing.

[@rncine]

I am so sorry to hear about your wife, especially at such a young age. I have a patient that at the age of 23, she was showing signs of dementia. She would put OJ in the pantry, microwave popcorn at 4am almost setting fire because she would cook it for 30minutes, walk around in the home looking confused, parents had to hide food because in the middle of night, she would binge eat, stopped taking showers, would walk around without clothes, then stopped talking. Thank God her family doctor did a Lyme test that came out positive. Lyme Disease is from a Tick bite even though she never had the circle rash. She was given 2 years of IV antibiotics, is much better now but does have a lot of medical problems because apparently she must have gotten bit years before and the bacteria went throughout her body then to brain. Thank you f telling your story, I know it must have been very difficult.

[@superme7801]

Heartbreaking.

[@cwbrooks5329]

Jag, Thank you for sharing your story. Like other commenters here, I was also a caregiver. It can really be a rough and lonely road, and 8 months after "the end" I am still very much living in the wake and figuring out the future. To any caregivers out there, hang on. I know it's so hard, but finding others and listening to their stories can help you feel less alone. Try to reach out IRL if you can. For every person who doesn't get it, or lets you down, there is someone else who will reach out a hand. Stay strong.

[@ronleight9341]

I hope you find your way back to happiness, like you had early on with your beautiful bride.

[@gerrywhelan7426]

Stay strong & you are so strong, you will soon be with Carol again. This world is but a short journey to where we all will live again, without any more grief or sorrow.

[@feefeefoofoo123]

Thank you for sharing your and your wife's story. I am so very sorry.

[@heideray7343]

Thank you for sharing your story. God bless you and your family!

[@leecarrigan1823]

How perfectly articulated. I am in the beginning stages of this process with my husband and raising his three grandchildren whom we adopted

[@amyhurley802]

He has gone through total devastation. Unless anyone has gone through the same thing, don't judge!! He loves her, but this diagnosis absolutely changes the relationship. How could it not?

[@WdawgSmith]

Save your breath People just like to judge Anyone who is intelligent can see that the logical thing in the situation is that it will drastically change your relationship with the person suffering from the disease Dementia isn’t just a memory loss disease It takes your memory but also your personality It completely removes the sense of self that person has I think some people are reluctant to believe the facts because they don’t think anything can destroy a persons soul But dementia can and will.

[@kookykreek]

Walking this Frontotemporal dementia road with my sister right now. Awful disease! Early onset is particularly difficult because you’re not looking for dementia in a younger person. You get wrong diagnosing and a true run around. My sister also cannot communicate. So rough. Sorry for your loss.

[@ronaldmacpherson3345]

This is such a sad story

[@FlorenceWinters-f7n]

Thank-you for sharing Jag. You are looking healthier/happier than when we last met (zoom).

[@carinwiseman4309]

At this age, my God, this has got to have a metabolic component.

[@andrewhazenberg3398]

I absolutely would end my life if I was ever diagnosed with dementia.

[@kittycat6195]

What a great person ❤

[@deanawells4395]

Wow. What a sad, scary story. I am so sorry.

[@laurawhite4118]

I hope you are well.

[@lindaallen8800]

Where did the children live if they had to come on weekends to visit?

[@cremebrulee4759]

This is so sad. 😢

[@betsyfaircloth334]

sry for your loss

[@emeraldkimble7602]

When does young onset become precocious dementia aka schizophrenia

[@SapphireZeev36]

With dementias you find loss of cortical tissue. Schizophrenia is biologically not really atrophy so much as a different structural issues going on between neurons

[@Jeaniesunshine-fb5rk]

My dear friend needs to be reminded how we are friends. Shes moved in with her daughter. I miss ger, but zi call g er ever y 10 days or so. Shes still my fr I rnd.

[@caronmiller1943]

😢

[@ondreacounts2556]

My condolences to this man. As an only cargiver for my mother that has been diagnosed w/Alzheimers, I empathize with him.

[@jackielong9927]

🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@patriciajoyner9871]

You will find out who your friends are

[@davidboggs7032]

You have no idea what you’re talking about. I have the same situation with my husband. The love changes it’s not romantic anymore. Until you experience that don’t make judgments or statements That you have not experienced! I loved him with all my heart, I miss him terribly, but the love did change. I became a caretaker which I don’t regret at all.

[@SweetSassyBull]

Who has no idea what they are talking about??????

[@kennethhall9202]

That’s cruel feel out of love wtf

[@tommoyle8330]

vaxxxed ?

[@californiadoll6273]

If my bf got dementia I'd leave him. I'm not interested in the burden

[@Chanellnbr5]

If it happened to you, then who would you expect to take care of you?

[@corinadaschievici1925]

For you to say that you fell out of love with her bc of her illness is rudely inappropriate and disrespectful!

[@calvinsmithson8042]

This man has a right to have and express his emotions. He stayed and cared for her. I am impressed by his compassion, tenacity, and honesty.

[@corinadaschievici1925]

@@calvinsmithson8042 till he said that he fell off love with her due to the illness. That's cruel!

[@kateb7155]

Your comment is rudely inappropriate and disrespectful, and woefully ignorant. You lack emotional intelligence and empathy. You are a troll.

[@joany11swatch14]

Wow. You obviously didn’t understand what he was saying. You took it totally out of context. He didn’t mean he feel out of love with her due to the illness. Learn to listen.

[@pamsbirding]

@@joany11swatch14 I agree. I can't believe she posted this comment.