Dorothy and Les Bullis - Burnaby and New Westminster Honourees
2021 IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's
On nights when Les Bullis’ wife Dorothy didn’t recognize him, he’d quietly say goodnight, leave the bedroom and watch TV on mute. When he’d return, she’d ask him where he’d been. When Les tells this story, he gently finds the humour in it.
Humour, care for others and honesty, Les says, were three of his wife’s most definitive characteristics. They’re also qualities he embodies as a caregiver.
Les and Dorothy’s journey with dementia began in 2015 following a winter vacation with friends where she’d fallen and broken her hip. Dorothy first noticed cognitive changes while recovering from her hip surgery. However, she continued to travel with Les following her diagnosis of dementia – and their strong social circle had played a key role in the couple’s ability to cope with Dorothy’s changing abilities. Dorothy experienced few difficulties with her memory during the day, but in the evenings, when the sun set, and she was fatigued, she’d often grow very confused and mistrustful of Les, behaviour that some refer to as “sundowning.”
In moments when confusion and anxiety arose, Les would often suggest they meet friends for coffee and by the time they get there, Dorothy’s end-of-day confusion had passed, and she trusted Les once more
“You don’t fight,” Les says. “You don’t argue. It’s so funny how quickly the mood goes in and out.”
The other key to the couple’s success in navigating the journey together was: support and education from the Alzheimer Society of B.C. Les says that the support he received from Society staff gave him the skills and confidence to respond in challenging situations. Les is now able to advocate and share some of this knowledge with his community.
“One of the things we learned is you have to break down the stigma of dementia,” he says, adding Dorothy was often the first to recognize a mistake she’d made and the first to make a joke about it. “She didn’t mind people knowing her diagnosis, just as long as she was the person telling them about it.”
Les is a proud parent to two children, a grandparent to four and great-grandparent to three more. Their close friends, family and a love of travel has taken both Les and Dorothy on a lifelong adventure over their 62 years of marriage – a journey he will cherish every day.
Join Les this May for the Burnaby and New Westminster IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's. Together, we make memories matter.