How do you answer your mom when she asks that question, then again the next day, and the day after, and so on. She's worrying herself sick that she has this. She's still functional, just forgetful, but is taking the news like it's some debilitating terminal illness.
Also, is there some field of mental health care that provides for mental/psychiatric counseling or treatment?
"Counseling" for someone with no short term memory doesn't sound like it would be useful, but if, as your profile states, mom is prone to self-pity, meds may help.
Dementia seems to rob the brain of some of the neurotransmitters that make life bearable. Replacing them is an act of kindness.
Your profile says she has had a stroke so there is probably damage to the brain which will cause the problems you describe. ALZ and a stroke don't usually go together. ALZ effects the brain differently than other Dementia and IMO is hereditary. Runs in my Dads side of the family.
Is Mom getting any type of therapy for the damage to her brain. Seeing if maybe the other side of the brain can be taught what the damaged part of the brain has lost? They found when my Grandson was operated on for epilepsy, that if damage was done during the operation, his other side of the brain could be taught to take over.
Like said, since Moms short-term is effected, you may not be able to convince her she doesn't have ALZ. What you can tell her is her stroke caused some damage and that is why she feels she has ALZ. Whether she will remember that...
"Alzheimer's disease (AD) and stroke are common disorders of aging, but the relationship between these two disorders remains uncertain. Recent evidence recognized that they frequently co-occur and are influenced by each other, while other studies have produced inconsistent results."
Just my opinion. I can see ALZ contributing to a stroke but not a stroke causing ALZ.
all are honest answers but somehow people put such a moral failing onto dementias. It is an organ failure, no different than kidney failure or heart failure...damaged organs don't work great.