Sir, – Our family, like many others, read the widespread media reporting of Bruce Willis’s recent diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Unfortunately, we understand only too well the trauma and sadness his family must be going through as they get to grips with this rare and challenging illness.
Aged just 59, a member of our family received an FTD diagnosis last August.
Since then, we have been battling with the HSE and Department of Social Welfare for appropriate care and support. Having spent seven months in St Vincent’s Hospital, we were unsuccessful in our plight to meet a neurology consultant, or secure him care on a neurology ward.
We were unable to take him home for fear of risk to his own safety. We continue to chase the Department of Social Welfare so that he may be granted disability payment to support us in caring for his needs.
Protestant churches face a day of reckoning with North’s inquiry into mother and baby homes
Pat Leahy: Smart people still insist the truth of a patent absurdity – that Gerry Adams was never in the IRA
The top 25 women’s sporting moments of the year: 25-6 revealed with Mona McSharry, Rachael Blackmore and relay team featuring
Former Tory minister Steve Baker: ‘Ireland has been treated badly by the UK. It’s f**king shaming’
After four short weeks in a nursing home, they have returned him to St Vincent’s Hospital A&E as they did not have the staff to manage his needs. Here he will continue to take up a much-needed bed as we work tirelessly to find a home that will accept his age and diagnosis.
A man of Bruce Willis’s status has captured the attention of global media. If only our family had gone into acting. – Yours, etc,
LIA DOWNER,
Shankill,
Dublin 18.