Agree with ExhaustedPiper- keep track what you are noticing with your mums behavior & have her doctor do a screening test to get early jump on things. There are support groups for families dealing with Dementia & Alzheimer’s, which can help you understand the disease and symptoms. It can be very frustrating and upsetting to watch a loved one going through this, especially if choosing to care for them yourself as things can become very repetitive and often hard to understand. Often signs can be things like: repeating themselves, placing things in odd places, their own form of ocd organizing (which often doesn’t make sense to loved ones as logical), easily frustrated/agitated, impulsive behavior and lapses in time. Sure often forgetting and grumpiness, even time line recollection errors can just be symptoms of age in general, but it can be a big relief to know either way what could actually be going on to get ahead of it so you can better plan for both your futures earlier rather than later. Getting things like POA, Living Wills and DNR documents while your mum still is capable of making her own decisions now taken care of can’t hurt. Stay strong!
I agree with ExhaustedPiper. It could be that she is just reliving some memories and likes to share them. But, I will say that when my LO, who was 62 at the time, started telling a few of the same stories EVERY single time that I spoke with her, I thought that she was just being annoying. I would even tell her that she had told me that story the previous day, but, she would keep talking and tell it again anyway! lol LATER, I discovered that it was much more and she actually was diagnosed with severe dementia. Other things include difficulty remembering how to do things, like laundry, how to make a sandwich (because it requires planning, getting out the items and putting them on a plate in certain order), etc. They may also become contrary and quite disagreeable.
Have you noticed any other changes? My mom has vascular dementia with significant memory problems but I also noticed a change in her executive functioning. She wasn't just forgetting things, she was making bad decisions. Things that would never come to pass, like wanting to buy a pontoon boat when she can barely walk across the parking lot. She brought this up AGAIN last night. It's bizarre how she thinks she can own this big boat HERSELF and also navigate it in the intercoastal waters!
So dementia is more than just being forgetful. At least in what I am seeing.
You could ask your mom's doctor to give her a short evaluation. It's called a MMSE test. It's a screening test, but your observations are also very important. I wrote mine down for the neurologist and it was helpful.
Good luck. I hope you are NOT dealing with dementia.
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Can you go with her to her primary care doctor and/or a neurologist? Being present to share concerns and hear answers is really helpful.
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So dementia is more than just being forgetful. At least in what I am seeing.
You could ask your mom's doctor to give her a short evaluation. It's called a MMSE test. It's a screening test, but your observations are also very important. I wrote mine down for the neurologist and it was helpful.
Good luck. I hope you are NOT dealing with dementia.