When I asked my mother's doctor (privately) he said " Oh she does have a lot going on right now." (Decline in health recently) If or when I need to have him to sign she is capable or not, I need to have it in her medical chart a head of time. I know what to expect from what I have read by some posted here but when does it start? Mother is generally a peaceful lady, but of late, she can ask me the same question an hour later. She has no UTI or nothing off on her blood work. Thanks
Her General Practitioner doctor did not diagnose our 87 year old, we had the GP give us a referral (after they did a cat scan) to a neurologist (then to a neuro-psych) who then gave her a neuro-psych evaluation.
If their answers seem to general, like I ate left overs, means they are not remembering what they ate or likely did not eat, or weight loss from not eating...
Repeating themselves, asking for things over and over, in dementia the short term memory goes and boy does it go...(ex.) The baby shower yesterday is forgotten as soon as they walk through the door of their house, where have you been? I have been here all day with you...
Get a medical power of attorney, by all means...
During dementia the brain shrinks...
So, a durable POA is the most useful, but if a springing POA is all your mom will agree to, then it will do the job when it's most needed.
One of my siblings had a POA for many years & misused her authority with Dad's assets, including misappropriating assets that were entrusted to her, and ended up in her name.
As I've explained to Dad, giving someone a POA, especially a FULL (unlimited) is like turning over your wallet, credit/bank cards, all your assets and possessions to them.
Mom continues to live on her own and for the most part is managing. It's been 2 yrs. they can prescribe medications that some have found to help. They didn't help my mom although she wasn't on them long enough to give a fair evaluation. Actually, she went off all her maintenance meds ...she's 91 and amazingly she is sharper now than she was for the last 3 yrs. I can't explain that except to say she likely shouldn't have been on some and secondly she likely wasn't managing her meds and taking them regularly as prescribed because of the dementia.
I live long distance and don't see her everyday, so I would visit and notice major changes. Paranoia, confusion, bad food in fridge, late bill notices, hallucinations were major flags.
Get HIPPA! DPOA for financial and medical current and in order and make sure you have copies in your possession. Start talking to her about what she wants and if she has plans when she can no longer manage. See if she will add you to her bank accounts. Visit some care facilities on your own, then narrow down to 1 or 2 and visit with mom well in advance of her needs so that she gets a feel for what she likes or wants in the future.
As to dementia, there can be many causes including hardening of the arteries and small transient strokes. Medicine is still learning about the causes and effects. Regardless of the cause, when someone becomes a danger to themselves, they need supervised care.
Good luck with this. It isn't easy.
So many have a cardiac blockage in their 20's. It's common.
IT STARTED....
Margaret What would be considered a medical professional of this specialty or would her family doctor do? I have asked her about her care, and she wants to stay with me. But realistically and reading different subjects on here, I need to know she understands I can not provide the best care for her. I am reading the Care directive and the Nurse is going over it with us soon. She doesn't want a POA ever again. Mom already put my name on her check book because she has trouble spelling her name, and writing a check. She opens her own mail then brings them to me. She can not cook a meal, she can't put a cap back on a tube, she sometimes asks what day of the week it is, or where I have been. She doesn't remember if it is time for medicines, I watch that and fix her pills. The RN who comes says she won't document anything of her concerns of dementia as mom signs her timesheet . This made me think about it strongly.
Dementia can creep up very, very slowly, doesn't follow a strict pattern and doesn't affect everyone the same way. But in general forgetting, repeating, personality changes, difficulty with sequencing of tasks (e.g. cooking a meal) are all signs of dementia. For the purposes of competency, a proper check by a medical professional is necessary. You should discuss her wishes with her and get her legal affairs in order now, while she is still able to discuss it.