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DEALING WITH DEMENTIA
What I Wish We’d Done at the First Sign Mom Was Losing Her Memory
Nothing makes this road easy but some practical repairs ease the bumps
We first noticed it during Covid lockdowns.
“Is Mom repeating stories when you talk to her?”
“Yup, sometimes the exact same thing multiple times in one phone call.”
Not a good sign, but it was lockdown. Not much happened to talk about.
Then there was Tim’s funeral. Mom got lost returning to her hotel room to get a sweater. We found her wandering around outside the hotel. Concerning but anyone would be disoriented after burying their son.
We all agreed there was a potential problem percolating and began work on getting Mom’s memory tested but there was so much more we could have done to make our lives and, more importantly, Mom’s, better in the difficult years to come.
I recognize that not everyone has a healthy relationship with their parent. Sometimes you can’t or shouldn’t try to be a caregiver in any way. My experience won’t be yours but I share my story in hopes of providing some encouragement and practical advice from one woman’s perspective.
