Page 5 - Who Are You

Foreword

No one is more knowledgeable about the experience of living with
dementia than a person who has dedicated their life to caring for
someone with it.

Ken Eaton spent five years of his life dedicated entirely to caring
for his wife after her diagnosis with early-onset dementia. In those
five years he saw the life of the woman he married change. Her
memory of him, their marriage, their children all began to blur, but
his love for her never faltered.

Grief is an unwelcome but important part of life and loss. If there
is one thing we can learn from the poems of Ken, it is that in some
cases, grief can inspire some truly amazing things.

Ken took his experience of heartbreak, together with his faithful
dog Chloe, and embarked on a motorbike journey around Australia
just like he and his wife dreamed of when they were young. Over
the years, he evaluated, reflected and transcribed his reflections into
this small, heartfelt book.

Ken’s reflections helped in his own recovery from grief and loss,
and to make sense of his time living with dementia. In publishing
this book, he hopes to help others caring for those with dementia;
to remind them that no matter the pain they endure, they will sur-
vive, and their lives will go on.

Rhonda Parker
Chief Executive Officer
Alzheimer’s WA