A woman who thought her husband could be having an affair after he became withdrawn, discovered he actually had early-onset dementia.
Emma Ruscoe, 55, started noticing subtle signs that there was something wrong with her husband, Simon, 58.
After a vacation to Cephalonia, Greece, in August 2016, Emma says Simon became argumentative and started forgetting conversations.
Emma took him to her GP who then referred him to a memory clinic, but it was tricky getting Simon to an appointment.
Emma went back to the doctors in March 2018 and again was referred to a memory clinic.
Simon was seen in June 2018 and received a letter saying he did not have dementia.
After three-and-a-half years, Simon’s condition deteriorated so much that he was diagnosed with dementia in January 2020.
Emma, an administrator, from Solihull, England, said: “I noticed a change in his behavior at the end of 2015.
“Simon stopped wanting to go out with friends, he didn’t want to go out and socialize.
“When he received the diagnosis, I felt a sense of relief.
“I knew something was wrong and I was battling for so long – nobody believed there was anything wrong with him.”
Towards the end of 2015, Emma noticed her husband’s behavior started to change.
He would start taking wrong turns when they went on familiar journeys.
During their vacation to Cephalonia, Greece in August 2016 with their two sons – Alex, now 26, and Oliver, now 21, he became argumentative.
Emma said: “When we got back from holiday, we went to our GP.”
Concerned by Simon’s deteriorating behavior, Emma went back to the GP and was referred again to the memory clinic.
The pair went to a few appointments where Simon was assessed and in January 2020, he was diagnosed with early-onset dementia.
Emma said: “I can’t fault my GP as they did refer us to the memory clinic, but I think they should also be sign-posting people to the Alzheimer’s Society.
Soon after Simon’s diagnosis, the UK went into lockdown for COVID-19.
Emma said it was “hard” to look after Simon, but they adapted.
She said: “From my point of view lockdown was hard. He was in the mild stage of the disease.
Emma said she hopes that Simon will continue to be cared for at home but admits she doesn’t know what the future holds.
She said: “Reading the prognosis, he probably will go into a home, but we will fight that every step of the way – I would prefer him to be at home.
“On bad days it feels like my heart is being ripped out but on good days I think I am lucky that he is still here.
“He is my soulmate – the love of my life and he always will be.”
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
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