Granddaughter follows couple’s heartbreaking journey through dementia

Danish pastry photographer, Sophie Mathiassen, was awarded the 2022 Bob and Diane Fund award for her profoundly aflare oeuvre that captures her grandparents' journey finished dementia.

'But greatest is love' is the story of Ms Mathiassen's grandparents, from the time her granddad was diagnosed with dementia and Parkinson's disease, to how his wife stepped up to be his carer, and how she coped with slowly losing her biography partner until, eventually, helium passed away.

The project includes photographs, journal writings, archive photos, interviews and photographed artefacts.

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Poul and Else Mathiassen were married for 57 years

Disseminated multiple sclerosis Mathiassen's grandparents were Poul and Else Mathiassen. They met in 1960, when Other was a harbor and Poul an organize. Non long afterwards, Poul was offered a job in Iran, but when he was offered the job, helium told his new employer that before he could leave, he had to marry Other so she could joint him.

They united on 1 July 1961, and were the loves of each new's lives, Ms Mathiassen told HelloCare by e-mail.

After quintet years in Iran, Poul and Else returned to Denmark and had two children. Poul was diagnosed with dementia and Parkinson's disease in 2011, simply had been miserable with memory problems, trouble concentrating and losing his sentience of time and place for some time.

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Poul was a tidy and organised man. Else's gift, but then, was putting the well-beingness of others earlier her have.

Subsequently Poul's diagnosis, Else began to carelessness her own needs and mental wellness while she took care of Poul, trying to hold on to him as he slipped further and advance away, Ms Mathiassen said.

"As Poul got worsened, his demand of care turned into a full-time job," Mississippi Mathiassen explained.

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"Poul is hurting"

The couple wrote in a journal every mean solar day. "Not a day would pass without one of them authorship down the events of the day. Sometimes it would just be one sentence, another multiplication, especially when Poul was writing, it would be a elaborated list of the humble joys of the day," Ms Mathiassen aforementioned.

Two geezerhood earlier he passed away, Poul moved into the topical anesthetic nursing home. The locomote eased the saddle on Other, but she allay visited him every day. She continued to keep a daybook, and wrote of Poul's condition every day until he died on 18 April 2019.

Happening 17 February 2017, Other wrote:

"Spoke with the doctor now almost the test results. Change in big-toe issuing and urine acid. Awaiting discussion possibilities. Poul is pain. Accepted and swallowed one gram of painkillers around 5pm. Poul was calm and we talked about life, expiry, love and the children. Stayed for dinner. Went dwelling house 8pm. Else"

The couple were active members of their local community

Both Poul and Else were very active before Poul's diagnosis, MSc Mathiassen told HelloCare. "They were the sort of populate who would always help out and take action on all matters in the small residential district where they lived.

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"They were some volunteers in the topical dramatic art/cinema, my grandfather was operational the film device. Helium was also working on modelling trains for umteen years – building trains, landscapes and creating everything himself. He was an engineer and he really loved existence creative.

"My grandmother was creative too, picture and sewing. She sewed half of the outfits I wore as a child and would make matching outfits for my Barbie dolls. And baking hot, she always had a bar ready for whatever issue," Ms Mathiassen same.

"This energy disappeared, ever since the diagnosis was granted – because it demands a lot of time, care and perpetual mien," she said.

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Living with dementedness, their love but grew stronger

Ms Mathiassen aforesaid the partner off's experiences with dementedness seemed to bring them even closer together.

"I would read that I started noticing their love more, when I saw IT in some other light after the diagnosis," she said.

Poul's diagnosis had a dramatic bear upon along Else's life.

"When you give been together for one-half a century, then you start to see your husband fade out, and at the same time He demands all the attention and care in the global, information technology takes a heavy toll on the caregiver," Ms Mathiassen said.

"She was depressed and troubled and directly, after he passed away, she seems so often older. Well, she is old in age, but it's like all those years with Poul being sick took some of the air in her balloon," she said.

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Photographs are a loving giving

Else was always very happy to equal photographed, and enjoyed the work Ms Mathaissen created. She mat up the project was a talent to her and Poul.

"When I was working on the throw, photographing, my gramps wasn't aware that I was photographing most of the clip. But Else assures Pine Tree State that he would follow proud and thankful as wellspring if he saw the work. I opine so too, as he utilized to take pictures himself," Ms Mathia ssen told HelloCare.

Looking at the pictures now, Else does sometimes get sad.

"She is good, just she is sad, and misses Poul most of the time," Disseminated multiple sclerosis Mathiassen said.

"She tries to spend her time on good things for her, like being with the family, leaving out with some of their friends, going to the movies, reading books and so along. She inevitably to do many self-worry as she neglected her own needs for many years. But she is old, the disease ready-made her 10 years older … I worry for her sometimes, and call in her and photograph her a lot."

The Cork and Diane Fund is an one-year award for visible storytelling near Alzheimer's and dementia. You can pick up all Sophie Mathiassen's photos in her 'But greatest is love' here:

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