Doctor shares 'dementia whiteboard' daughter wrote for mother

Anyone who's had a relative or friend with dementia will know just how destructive the group of diseases is. The condition can impair memory, communication, focus, reasoning, and visual perception, transforming a sufferer into what can seem like an entirely different person in a matter of seconds.

Dr. Philip Grimmer from Wiltshire, UK, was visiting a dementia patient when he saw a reassuring message on a whiteboard written by the daughter, which he then shared on X.

"Words of reassurance left for an elderly lady with dementia by her daughter," Dr Grimmer explains. "A simple white board left in her sight line in her sitting room.  Helped to reduce constant anxious phone calls." 

The white board reads:

"Your meals are paid for

You're okay

Everyone's fine

You are not moving

No-one else is moving

Keep drinking, it will help your memory

You don't owe anyone any money

You haven't upset anyone." 

Dr Grimmer's tweet attracted over 40,000 likes and 7,000 retweets. He explained to the BBC that he'd initially posted the tweet to share it with his colleagues. "I'd not seen anything like it before in thousands of house visits. It's caring, reassuring and sensible - it's just such a simple idea."

Other social media users took the opportunity to share how they help those suffering from the disease.  

Dr Grimmer's image was also posted on Reddit, where it received more than 112,000 upvotes. 

Reddit user Kryptosis suggested that "you can use the bathroom whenever you like" be added as a former relative with dementia believed they couldn't use the bathroom. 

Hailley, a nurse from Canada, added: 

"I had one resident where I worked who would be in tears because he was worried about his children and having to pay for his meals."

"It was sometimes tough to reassure him. We had to call his children to talk to him a few times. It was hard to see him so upset." 

She expanded on her comment for the BBC:

"I have seen people talk down to those with dementia, which is just not right. They are still adults who know when they are being treated differently.

"People just do not know how to interact with them. It takes patience and you may not be able to have a conversation with them in the same way you would with someone without dementia.

"The whiteboard addresses what gets asked the most [by those] in long-term care."

This article was originally published on January 3, 2020. It has since been updated.