Madam,

Dementia is a very cruel disease and unfortunately has become ever more prevalent.

Over five years ago, dementia stole my father’s memories and health, and my mother and I cared for him to the very end of his life as he slowly faded away and died April this year.

Only those who have been through it are able to understand how truly terrible a disease it is.

As it was recently Dementia Week, I would like to thank Age Cymru Aberystwyth; Ceredigion District Nurses; the doctors who cared for my father; those who helped at Social Transport, Social Services and Occupational Therapy; and the staff of Carlton House for helping my mother and I to look after my father entirely at our family home until the end of his life.

My father, the first community psychiatric officer in the whole of Dyfed, faithfully dedicated more than half his life to mental health, to charity and to Freemasonry.

Yours etc,

Gareth Eastment, Llansantffraid, Llanon.

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