Dementia  seems to a growing epidemic in the older generations of the developed western countries today, and it's been growing  over this last few decades.

We investigated further, to see what we could uncover about this awful, debilitating illness. An ilness that robs people of their self respect,  their  dignity, and their sense of belonging.
(well, it would do - if they could remember what those things were).

We went to talk to someone about it, and just how badly  it's affected them...



Out of respect for him, and his right to privacy - we'll just call him Bernie Sanders.

![xdxd.JPG](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQUxTE2YHxNc3mjJJTYZi4eAVxtynZDYzoXfqgRnhyi3A/xdxd.JPG)



Me: Hi Bernie, it's very good of you to meet me today..

_Bernie:  Where's the fish? It's Friday, why isn't there fish on the menu?_

Me:  Sorry Bernie,  I've come her for the interview appointment , I don' work here. Do you remember, our  appointment? We were going to discuss dementia..

_Bernie : Of course I remember the appointment you silly girl.  I want  some fried haddock though,  it's a goddamn Friday! I always have fish on a Friday.._

Me:  Okay, let me see what I can get for you, shall I..?

_Bernie : It's OK, I'll wait for the other waitress.  She knows what I like. I come here every week._

Me : So when did you realize you were suffering from dementia, Bernie?

_Bernie: Me? I'm an independent, not a bloody democrat. Never again I tell ya's, never again. They screwed me, they did._

Me: No Bernie not the democratic party, I'm talking about dementia, the illness?

_Bernie: You got that right it is  an illness, I tell ya. Mental illness. I'll never be democrat again..they're fucking loopy, I tell ya.... They have very nice houses though, you can't take that away from 'em. Very nice. 
They give me a very nice house, did you know that?_

Me: Yes Bernie, we all know about that, but getting back to how dementia  has affected  you in your  day to day, can you tell us little more about that?

_Bernie : To be honest, I don' think I suffer from it too badly,  it's just the confusion that just seems to come and go, without warning, and that's the problem. 
Like the other day, I was doing a speech somewhere- I forget where – I had a real _bad_ attack. I couldn't tell who the men were,  and who were girls were! They all looked the bloody same!_

Me: Is that the transgender conference  you're referring to?

_Bernie: I don't  know, but they'll never get jobs looking like I can tell ya's. Never. 
This whole countries gone to hell... What's next ? Men saying they can have babies?_ 

Me : I thought these were the kind of policies you endorsed in the election run up against Hilary?

_Bernie : I did? Why would I do that?_ 

Me: Yes Bernie, you were strong advocate of transgender rights.

_Bernie : Damn! Really?  This dementia gig musta kicked in earlier than I thought, then._

Me : Back to the dementia, you saying how it's affected you in your normal life..

_Bernie: Ah yes, I get sidetracked easily nowadays.... I find I lose my car a lot – that's damn annoying. It's bright red, – I'll take you for spin in it, later ...if I can find it.._

Me : Er, no - but thank you anyway.

_Bernie : Oh come on, come for a spin, it's well sporty! The peasants stare at it when I go past. I still remember how to drive, you know... most of the time anyway._.

Me : 'Peasants' is not a nice word, Bernie, I'm sure you didn't mean that.

_Bernie : I bloody well did, you know. Idle buggers,  the lot of them!  They should go get a job instead of waiting for handouts. Trump has the job number's growing, there's no excuse._

Me : I thought you didn't approve of Trump, and was intending to run against him?

_Bernie : I was? I thought I was running against Hilary..bugger. Oh no Trumps a fine man. He knows a thing a two about business, I can tell ya's. I have a sports car, did I tell you that?_

>At this point in the interview,  I realized just how badly dementia had affected Bernie, and thought best to cut the interview short. I was getting no sense out of this senile old git..

Me : Well Bernie, thanks ever so much for your time, and I think I have all the material that  I need.

_Bernie :  Come for a spin in my car missy, I think we all know what you need.._

Me : Mr Sanders, I already told you, I'm _not_ going for a drive  in your car, but thank you again, we'll be in touch shortly..

_Bernie : In touch shortly? What the hell!  Just give me my fried haddock will ya's?_ 

Me : Goodbye, Mr Sander's.

![yyy - Copy.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmR4eWjRRC9TTCyHUrQfWW52evf2DXdpnU75acScmjb43Y/yyy%20-%20Copy.png)

_Bernie:  Are you sure you've got no fish? It sure smells like you have..._


I wish to nominate @berniesanders  because he has a red sports car..
... and @lizelle because I found her name on a steemit search when I typed in 'haddock'.