My life with dementia | Ronald Roen | TEDxOmaha

Quick Overview

Ronald Roen shares his personal journey of living with dementia, emphasizing that while memory fades, humor, connections, and optimism remain vital anchors that help him navigate the disease's challenges, including cognitive impairment and frustration.

Key Points: Ronald Roen, 56 years old at the time of the talk, shares his experience living with dementia, which he humorously calls his "disappearing act." He notes that dementia is more than just forgetting names or misplacing keys; it involves losing one's voice and freedom, and blurring the past and future. Roen cites his 13 years as a Navy intelligence officer, where he was trained to analyze, plan, and think clearly under pressure, as a contrast to his current state. He relies on mnemonic devices, notes, and actively seeking information to track what is happening, as cognitive impairment makes things less clear. Roen emphasizes that optimism and maintaining connections with family (like his supportive friend Pappy) and others are crucial for staying anchored. He encourages the audience to be patient, as people with dementia may ask the same questions twice, and highlights that the unseen challenges are often the hardest. His goal is to keep walking, talking, asking questions, and sending out signals to stay connected, even as his mission (his former life) slips away.

Context: This TEDxOmaha talk features Ronald Roen recounting his life after being diagnosed with dementia, likely Alzheimer's, given his description of memory loss and cognitive challenges. Roen shares insights from his past career as a Navy intelligence officer to frame the seriousness of his current condition, contrasting his former need for clarity and planning with the unpredictable nature of memory loss. The presentation focuses on coping mechanisms and the importance of human connection in maintaining hope and a sense of self despite the progressive cognitive decline.

Detailed Analysis

Ronald Roen delivers a deeply personal account of living with dementia, framing it as his "disappearing act." He begins by acknowledging the common symptoms people associate with dementia—forgetting names or misplacing keys—but clarifies that the reality is far more profound, involving the loss of one's voice and freedom, making the past and future blurry. Roen draws a parallel to his 13 years as a Navy intelligence officer, where clear thinking under pressure was paramount, contrasting sharply with the current cognitive fog. He admits to using tools like mnemonic devices and taking notes to keep track of daily life. A major theme is the importance of relationships; he thanks supportive people like his friend Pappy and his wife, whose patience helps anchor him. He explicitly mentions that optimism is a key attitude that helps him move forward. Roen shares that he actively tries to stay engaged by walking 10,000 steps a day, talking, and asking questions, even if he asks them twice. He concludes by noting that while his past military mission is gone, his current mission is to stay connected and that the support he receives gives him hope.