My aunt, age 85 . She’s fiercely independent . Lost her husband several years ago - this broke her and she’s never really recovered .
Every single time we speak to her; she’s depressed, lonely, unhappy, miserable, bored .
We have tried everything we can within restrictions . Several of us and go and see her anyway, she’s still driving (for now), she’s able to watch TV, use FaceTime and zoom, she’s able to read, she has a beautiful garden, lots of hobbies, magazine deliveries, we help with shopping, have offered to go for walks, we give her new recipes to try, sometimes I just pop her on FaceTime while I potter .... sometimes sleep over some nights .
She is very unhappy whatever we do - seems very angry and sad much of the time . She’s now started to argue, in a way that’s unusual for her - a bit disinhibited - and doing odd things like hoarding, that she’s never done before.
She’s also a big drinker - ie multiple litres a week .
My work hat is telling me she needs a GP review - either she’s depressed, or she’s at the beginning of dementia - either way, she needs a review .
Her parents died of Alzheimer’s . Afaik they were dead before they were her age .
She’s dividing up her possessions quite rapidly and talks often about dying, heaven, Jesus etc - it’s quite disconcerting as she talks as it it’s a bus trip she’s going on .
She needs a GP at minimum doesn’t she?