The theory that music is the best therapy against dementia proved to be inapplicable in the case of her husband, who had played music continuously for 70 years, says Mrs. Hürsch-Dietrich.

She had heard on the radio that music is the best therapy against dementia, says Mrs. Hürsch-Dietrich. In the case of her husband, though, who was exceptionally musical and had played music continuously for 70 years, this theory proved to be inapplicable.

It was only after her husband moved into a nursing home that Mrs. Hürsch-Dietrich fully realized how much she had needed care at home.

It was only after her husband moved into a nursing home that Mrs. Hürsch-Dietrich fully realized how much she had needed care at home.

The transition in communication is not trivial for Mrs. Hürsch-Dietrich because habitual ways of relaying information or having discussions must be totally abandoned.

The transition in communication is not trivial for Mrs. Hürsch-Dietrich because habitual ways of relaying information or having discussions must be totally abandoned. For example, she can no longer simply ask her husband questions to engage him in conversation. Often, trying to offer a well-intentioned explanation elicits an angry reaction.

Her husband tried to conceal his confusion and forgetfulness, says Mrs. Hürsch-Dietrich. The diagnosis finally served as an "explanation" for the family.

Her husband's confusion and forgetfulness were noticed by the family long before he received a diagnosis, Mrs. Hürsch-Dietrich relates. Her husband tried to conceal his difficulties. The diagnosis finally served as an "explanation" for the family.

How Mr. Hürsch is handling the disease and how much of his disability he perceives is not clear to the family.

How Mr. Hürsch is handling the disease and how much of his disability he perceives is not clear to the family. His self-expression "If you only knew what it looks like in my head", which expresses frustration and despair, is contrasted by the assumption of his relatives that he is less and less able to reflect on himself. It is also possible that Mr. Hürsch has resigned himself to the illness, his daughter speculates.

Mrs. Hürsch-Dietrich is concerned about how much her husband still understands.

Mrs. Hürsch-Dietrich is concerned about how much her husband still understands. Although she shares the view of her children that he lost a significant amount of mental capacity, she assumes that some awareness is available to him. Not even the "top professor" is able to come to grips with the complexity of the brain.

Dementia is not a physical disease like cancer that destroys the body, says Mrs. Hürsch-Dietrich. She identifies suffering caused by the disease as existing on a different level.

Dementia is not a physical disease like cancer that destroys the body, says Mrs. Hürsch-Dietrich. She identifies suffering caused by the disease as existing on another level. Even after the person with the disease is significantly cognitively impaired, the condition continues for a long time. Those who interact with the dementia patient become entangled in moral dilemmas, which causes emotional suffering.

Mrs. Hürsch’s family and doctors had different assessments of whether he could still drive safely.

Mr. Hürsch’s family and doctors had different assessments of whether he could still drive safely. Eventually, Mr. Hürsch surrendered his driving license himself. According to his son, a key factor was that Mr. Hürsch was able to decide the timing for himself rather than feel the doctor was dictating it.

Mrs. Hürsch and her daughter were disappointed with the opinion of the doctor, who still felt that Mr. Hürsch was safe to drive.

Mrs. Hürsch, together with her daughter, Mrs. Colombo-Hürsch, initiated an assessment of Mr. Hürsh’s driving ability because they considered him to be a possible danger on the road. They were disappointed with the opinion of the doctor, who still felt that Mr. Hürsch could drive safely.

Mrs. Hürsch-Dietrich's experience with the Spitex staff and the care team at the daycare center has been consistently positive. The external support eased the situation for her at home.

Mrs. Hürsch-Dietrich's experience with the Spitex staff and the care team at the daycare center has been consistently positive. The external support eased the situation for her at home.

The nursing home is the "wrong place to try to save money," the Hürsch family unanimously concludes. Every person who enters a nursing home deserves good care.

The nursing home is the "wrong place to save money," the Hürsch family unanimously concludes. Every person who enters a nursing home deserves good care.

Mrs. Hürsch-Dietrich's search for a home for her husband took place under great pressure.

Mrs. Hürsch-Dietrich's search for a home for her husband was carried out under great pressure. Since his dementia was considered far advanced and not treatable, he had to leave the clinic they had found. Mrs. Hürsch's children, together with the clinic's social services, helped her find a new care facility. However, the possible options were limited and often too far away, her daughter notes.

For Mr. Hürsch and Mrs. Colombo-Hürsch, it was not easy to witness how their mother was affected by being cared for at home. Nevertheless, they went along with their mother’s preference instead of transferring her to a home. They took away the burden of finding a home.

It was not easy for Mr. Hürsch and Mrs. Colombo-Hürsch to see how their mother was affected by being cared for at home. Nevertheless, they went along with their mother instead of transferring her to a home. They took away the burden of finding a home.