Pushing the boundaries
Cathy Le Vaillant pictured on the day of her capping at the University of Tasmania two years ago after gaining a BA majoring in dementia.
Cathy Le Vaillant pictured on the day of her capping at the University of Tasmania two years ago after gaining a BA majoring in dementia.
Age has proved no barrier to learning for 76-year-old Tūrangi woman Cathy Le Vaillant.
By Dee Wilson
Six years ago, after a career working with dementia patients and the elderly in the Rotorua region Cathy embarked on a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in the disease.
Although she had retired from full-time work, Cathy wanted to learn more about the science of dementia. Her late mother and sister and her brother, who is now in a home, were all diagnosed with the disease.
She made enquiries after seeing information about a pilot degree being run by the University of Tasmania’s Wicking Centre which deals solely with the study of dementia.
Out of the blue, she received a letter from the University offering her a free place on the pilot degree course.
She says curiosity about what she might be capable of learning in her 70s and the fact that the degree course had been offered to her as part of a free trial was greater than any fear of failure.
“I like to keep active and really wanted to learn more about the disease.”
At 70, Cathy was the oldest student on the course and the only New Zealander. Undaunted she studied at home on-line over the next four years, surprising herself with her capabilities. Her eldest son is a computer buff based in Australia and she says his expertise and help came in handy on a number of occasions.
“It was full on with assignments, papers and on-line lectures and I did things I never thought I was capable of – including learning how to make neurons work on a computer”
She learnt a great deal about the disease and all the types of dementia and how they manifest. That included finding out more about the gene – APOE4 – that she believes runs in her family.
Cathy took four years to complete the degree and says travelling to Tasmania at the age of 74 with husband Ray and her son for the capping ceremony was one of the proudest moments of her life.
At 76 she hasn’t given up on the dream of doing her Masters. In the meantime, she is happy to keep volunteering her services – speaking to groups and individuals - and sharing her own insights and knowledge about the disease.
Cathy says patience, tolerance and finding distractions are helpful when dealing with dementia patients. Support from family and friends is also invaluable.
“Thinking back as to what they did in their lives and utilising their talents from housework and gardening to puzzles and crosswords helps.
“The trick is to keep them moving and not treating them with kid gloves.”
She says her late mother had a habit of looking at the clock in the kitchen and asking over and over what the time was.
“There were times when I felt like throwing the clock out so she couldn’t see it. But if I used distraction and suggested we sweep the footpath, which she always had done, and then go out to the garden it usually worked.”
Cathy says being of use to people with dementia and their carers is something she and husband Ray both enjoy.
“When you can help people like that it is so fulfilling. It’s important to know what you’re dealing with and doing the degree and delving deeper into the scientific aspects of dementia also reaffirmed so much.”