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What springs to mind is the need for carers to be prepared for all kind of eventualities when looking after a loved one with dementia whether it is Springtime or any other season for that matter. As a retired sanitary inspector, otherwise known as environmental health officers these days, I am very aware of the imperative and need of carers to be alert to the risks associated with the care, personal hygiene, general safety and well-being of their loved ones. It is so easy for the unexpected to happen. If we are impatient or inconsiderate or selfish when responding to stressful behaviour, then matters can easily become much worse.

Keeping clean in every respect is essential and attention to detail must be carefully planned and monitored by having reminders at hand to ensure that what needs to be done, how it is done, actually gets done when it is to be done. Daily, weekly, monthly and necessary happenings are, ideally jotted down, displayed on notice boards or digitally recorded on i-phones. They are all useful ways to keep on top of things.

A well-known, or not so-well-known, poet named Edward Young (1683-1765) is noted for his “Night thoughts on Life, Death and Immortality”. My old English teacher, in my school days was always reminding us of Edward Young’s pronouncement: “Procrastination is the thief of time”. In other words, if something has to be done do it now or ASAP. Don’t put it off until tomorrow. Forgetfulness is something we can all suffer from.

Springtime is a good time to take stock and check what actually needs to be done now and to review how we have coped during the previous twelve months or even shorter periods, of time. Do we need to change anything? Do we need to talk to anyone about any particular issue or problem? What are the implications in terms of future cost, effort, energy and time? Jot it all down. Plan the next stage.