There’s No Bus Map For Dementia

There’s NoBus Map forDementiaA story about living well andgetting by with a little help

There’s No Bus Map for Dementia was created througha collaborative, patient-led approach. Artists and peopleliving with dementia worked together in a series of artsworkshops to find ways to represent and share the experienceof living well with dementia. There is an accompanying guideto using There’s No Bus Map for Dementia for health andsocial care practitioners. The project was funded byArts Council England.Story: Cathy Leamy and Sarah McNicolIllustration: Cathy LeamyThank you to Rita, Sue, Maq, John, Michael, Gordon,Fred, Shelagh, and Dave for their insight and to Betty,Jane, and Jessica for their workshop help.

who’s whojack skinNerMeet Jack! He’s a retired engineer who likesgardening and watching rugby. He developedvascular dementia after having a stroke sixyears ago.Jack and his wife, Pauline, have two sons(who live in London and Australia) and a catnamed Hobnobs.mary colLinsThis is Mary! She enjoys going out withfriends, knitting, and listening to true crimepodcasts. She is a retired estate agent, andshe was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s diseasethree years ago.Mary is divorced and has a daughter, Hannah,who lives in Gloucester.Jack and Mary became friendsthrough an online dementia supportforum. They realized that they livequite near each other, and now theymeet up in person from time to time.

Mary KeEps BusyHi Mum! JustcalLing to sayhelLo. What’reyou up to today?Ah, helLo,HanNah! Letme check mydiary . then a checkup atthe memory clinic, thenlunch in town, and thenthis afternoOn i’m meEtingJack for art clasS.this morningI had cofFeEwith AnNieand Priya .Wow, a lotgoing on! That’snot toO much?Oh, no! Something Iread online - When itcomes to dementia,the key to coping iskeEping busy.And my key tokeEping busy iscolour-coding!

jack stays focusedJack, love!it’s nearlytime foryour drawingclasS.And freshsocks .Ah,thanks,petal!and where’smy new jumper,Pauline?in thewash.HmM, Ishouldchangefirst.Remember when I usedto get dresSed for workin the morning? i’d do alLthese other things at thesame time - eat brekKie,read the newspaper.I didn’t neEdto concentrateso hard. I couldmultitask.BetTer to“monotask”these days .lesS likely toforget mytrousers.oh, I don’tknow . someof us likeyou in justyour pants!

Mary overcomes her worRiesit’s greatthat you’regetTing out andabout, Mum.You usedto just stayin the housealL the time.I was worRiedabout you.I won’t lie - I stilLworRy. But I don’t wantto let it keEp me shutup in the house.And alL the tipsand tricks i’ve pickedup, and everyone i’vegot supPorting me they alL help me feElmore confident.I was worRied, toO about going outside!I kept thinking Iwould forget somethingor make a huge mistake,out in public.Plus you’vegot the reminderI made you!That helps toO.

jack catches the busi’m stilL not keEn onhaving to give up mydriving licence, but atleast the bus pasS ischeaper than petrol.i’m going totrinity streEt,please.And now,to admireour beautifulcity sights.And it is nicenot to fight thetrafFic myself.That bloke’spicking his nose!Ooh, newkebab shop.The dog poO infront of theboOkshop isstilL there?

Mary at the cashpointMy PiN is .HmM, I might wantto have tea with Jacklater . betTer topup on cash.BoO!HurRy up,slowcoach!Stopwastingour time!. is . oh no,not again.Can I help? iseverything OK?Er, no,but it’s notsomethingyou can fix!

Mary’s bank acCountHang on, I know you.it’s goOd to seE youagain, . er .it’s Samir! And i’mglad to seE youtoO, Mrs. ColLins.How are you?Fine, thanks. i’m justhaving a forgetfulmoment trying totake out some cash.I can help youat the counter,if you like?Thanks, Samir.Oh! i’m takingmoney out of theacCount you helpedme set up.Yes, i’minterestedin the . what’sit calLed,sweEtheart? The GoldClasSicsavingsacCount,Mum.

Ah, yes. BetTerinterest rate, lowerfeEs - that’s a goOdchoice.And she’srighthere!And it’sheracCount!Now, your mumwilL neEd to keEpa minimum balance.She’lL also neEdto choOse aninterest paymentscheme. And she’s -I certainlyhaven’t forgotTenthat lesSon incustomer service!

jack has some helpEven the busdriver has to loOkafter me . Whydo I even leavethe house .Oi, mate! Didn’tyou want TrinitystreEt? We’recoming up to it.Oh! Yes,thanks.But at home,Pauline has toloOk after metoO .it always usedto be me helpingother people .BzZZT!Mary CHi Jack! Are youon your way?We’re doingcolouring today we need yourartist’s eye for thisOK, there’sone way thati’m stilL helpingothers. CalL methe king ofcoloured pencils!

jack and the bus mapTrinityStreEt.SorRy aboutthe detour.it’s theFinalLy.roadworks.They’re goingon for months.When you’ve gotthe map, everythingis clear.The city shouldput that detour onthe bus map so thatpeople know.You know exactlywhere you’re goingand what the stopswilL be along the way.MillfieldsNewLaneSurreyStreetAnd you havean idea ofhow long itwilL take.Queens RoadSt. Giles StreetGreat Oak Lane

Yes, of courseI have the “memoryproblems” and “troubleconcentrating.”I thought thatdementia wouldbe like that toO,but it’s not.But why notthese othersymptoms unsteadinesS?BladDerproblems?Should Iexpect them?When?There’s no “bus map”for dementia. EveryoneprogresSes in their ownway, at their own pace.?Mary CAre you almosthere? We’re starting?Uh-oh i’d betTerprogresSto art clasSa litTlefaster!

getTing thereSorRy i’mlate, Mary!it’s OK, jack! You madeit here in the end.I got the buson time, but therewas trafFic anda detour forroadworks and -Sometimesthings takea bit longer .hufFhufF. andsometimesit’s frustrating . and when youthink about it,isn’t that likealL of lifewith dementia?. but eventualLy,and maybe witha bit of help,you get there.

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ISBN 978-1-910029-48-0Manchester Metropolitan University

living with dementia worked together in a series of arts workshops to find ways to represent and share the experience of living well with dementia. There is an accompanying guide to using There’s No Bus Map for Dementia for health and social care practitioners. The project was funded by Arts Council England. Story: Cathy Leamy and Sarah McNicol Illustration: Cathy Leamy Thank you to Rita .