It’s Not Dementia

 

 

You need not be concerned

On this or any day,

If you feel you have dementia

The doctor says, no way.

 

If you have dementia

And you know you have dementia

Then regarding your dementia

You do not have dementia.

 

If you know you forget

And you just keep on forgetting,

You do not have dementia

So please stop the fretting.

 

I am meeting a lot of people

With dementia on their mind,

They tell me that as they get older

They are forgetting all the time.

 

Even that is not true,

Nobody forgets all the time,

One cannot forget all of the time

If forgetting is on one’s mind.

 

But aside from that aside

One who knows he is forgetting

Needs to try some remembering techniques

And stop the useless fretting.

 

Order your life a little more,

Become a little more organized,

Have set routines throughout your day

And you will be surprised.

 

Put everything in a set place

Discipline yourself to do it,

Jot down things you are forgetting

And make this a daily habit.

 

It’s not dementia, I tell you,

Not if you are aware,

It has to be something else for sure

And I want to make this clear.

 

 

At the open door stood she

Not knowing what to do,

She couldn’t recall if she had come in

Or about to pass through.

 

He couldn’t remember his name,

In fact, he never had one,

Though a former teacher of some repute

His memory was now gone.

 

Neither knew they had forgotten,

It hadn’t occurred to them,

Whether or not theirs was dementia

Was not even their problem.

 

If dementia is your problem

You are not likely to know,

Note therefore my concerned friend,

Any doctor would tell you so.

 

If you have dementia

And you know you have dementia

Then regarding your dementia

You do not have dementia.

 

It’s not dementia, I tell you,

Not if you are aware,

It has to be something else for sure

So, put away your fear.

 

Stewart Russell © August 31, 2023