This is my first post. My 85-year old mother is more confused and forgetful than she was even just a few years ago. More details later. For 60 years she has been kind, generous and patient with me and I grieve the loss of the woman she used to be. When I visit her - perhaps too frequently! - I tell her how glad I am to see her and I take pleasure in the simple things we can enjoy together - walks, Scrabble games, old photo albums. I appreciate the posts of others who are dealing with the deterioration of elderly parents. I am crying as I type. Thanks
Do you or someone else in your family take her to the doctors?
Has she been diagnosed with dementia or ALZ?
Has she had any health issues? Any falls, bumps, or stroke that may have caused this decline?
Possibly it’s just natural declining.. if this is the case, then maybe this will be the new baseline.
Talk with her doctor.
Treasure those memories, as those are the ones you will remember when she's no longer here.
It is a grieving process we all go through when someone we love is declining and no longer the person we knew them to be, so be kind to yourself and allow yourself that time to grieve. It's very normal.
And if visiting her is now getting too difficult for you, perhaps it's best for the time being anyway that you cut back on your visits.
Enjoy whatever good moments you can with your mother, and know that she still loves you very much.
God bless you.
My best out to you.
The assessment involved imaging (brain MRI or CAT scan), testing of neurological functioning (basic memory, executive functioning and sequencing skills) and a neuropsychological assessment (IQ test with some additional features).
Did her doctor recommend any followup?
We got on with it ALL, and he was likely just the best person I ever heard discuss his symptoms, what brought them on, and etc. He was fascinating and he could have taught a course in it. Fact is that on some FB pages there are folks with Lewy's who ARE there to teach.
So time to find out what is going on here for sure. Be honest and open with your Mom about changes you are seeing because I can tell you she is already seeing them herself and trying to deny them (from my brother: "I KNEW something was wrong....", but that after an accident that totaled his truck and injured him badly, leading to his diagnosis.).
Best to you. And again, Welcome.