Is it Alzheimer or dementia when mama seems confused by formerly mundane tasks like cooking?

According to infolongtermcare, people who are suffering from long-term care Alzheimer's usually experience confusion and difficulty with daily tasks, however, these are only some of the symptoms. Memory loss is one of the main symptoms, you might as well consult a doctor and have her test for alzheimer's or any forms of dementia. The doctor would run a series of physical and cognitive tests including an MRI. Good luck :)

My mother would talk again and again about certain tasks or minor projects that she supposedly wanted to complete, but would never DO them. At first I noticed her repetitive conversation was getting worse. Then, it became apparent that she was losing her ability to "follow through" on things. Minor things at first, but then her finances started getting sloppy. Even if she could tell me exactly what needed to be done, and in what order, she wouldn't effectively do them. And any "curve balls" that occur, like her hairdresser moving away--we finally took her to get her hair cut because after 6 months of saying that she "needed to find someone else" she hadn't done it. I mention all these changes to her doc, whether or not it's considered an actual symptom of dementia.

Maybe. As Pam says, be observant and see what's happening.

Have there been any personality changes? In older people a uti often has symptoms similar to dementia.

So good to see you are alert to small changes. Not necessarily Alzheimer's but a mild form of age related decline. Look for other changes as well such as no longer reading books, no longer knitting or sewing. Forgets to pay bills. Car has scratches on all four corners. Buys the same groceries over and over and hoards them. Mom had 16 pairs of identical beige pants, for example. Check her driving skills by having her drive you two to lunch. If you see multiple areas of decline, you should share that with her MD, ask for testing and possible medications to prevent further losses.