My mother is 78, she has had recent problems with her short term memory but what is more concerning is that she says she is not feeling well but cannot express what is wrong. My dad has taken her to the doctor, urgent care, ER and her labs come back okay but she is not getting better and we do not know what to do. It could be depression, because of the memory loss, but she says she just doesn't feel good, she will sit on the couch with the TV on and close her eyes. She still gets herself dressed nicely, fixes her hair, makes her bed and makes coffee, breakfast but does little the rest of te day. She says she just doesnt feel well. My dad doesn't know what else to do for her other than to take her to the doctors. Any one have any ideas on what we can do??? I know this could be the dementia, depression or both but how do you know for sure.
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An idea is to buy little books about gratitude. Those little picture books, small gift books with sayings. Seems like the "life come and make me happy" part, almost daring it to, is not a good way to live. Anyone who has that attitude with bring their lives to a halt, and the attitude will self generate.
Of course, there may be something wrong, and small things like dentures not fitting well, constipation, acid reflux, gas...nasal congestion. These symptoms are not now understood by the patient and when my mother gets anything like these minor ailments, she assumes she is dying. They will consume what is left of Mom's mental functioning and make her fatalistic.
I know this sort of person is a burden, and self thrown pity parties make me furious, even if Mom has an obvious and painful complaint.
Good luck getting to bottom of it, and many many times, I do find the problem and "cure" it. Then mom is back in the game.