My poor dad. I really don't know what to do for the best. I'm of the opinion that he's in the early stages of dementia.
There's been a few incidents - him forgetting arrangements we've made, forgetting birthdays, forgetting things we've recently discussed. He's been eating out of date food - sometimes things that are still mouldy or things like meat etc. The most serious though was that I went to pick him up to take him shopping and he said that my brother was at his house, asleep in the spare bed. I thought it unusual as my brother lives 250 miles away and would have said if he were visiting, so when I went back with him, I checked and there was no one there at all. This has happened twice.
I've taken him to the doctors on several occasions about his memory, they have run blood tests which showed his iron levels were low, and the Dr gave him tablets but he won't take them.
My dad is 77, is in reasonable good health, lives on his own quite independently, though recently has stopped driving. He's of the opinion that there's no problem - he's just getting old.
The last time I took him to the Drs, they referred him to the memory clinic. They said he'd receive a letter. He did, but didn't tell me and missed his appointment. He's cancelled other doctors appointments as well. Today I rang the memory clinic and I explained how worried I was for him and they were able to tell me that he has another appointment on 23rd Jan, and the time.
Now, I know that it's very unlikely that my dad will tell me about this appointment when he gets the letter. So, my question is this - WIBU to pick him up as usual on the pretence of taking him shopping, and really take him to the memory clinic appointment, just to make sure he goes?
I'm very very worried for him, and I've seen a huge decline in him within the last six months. Maybe I'm being selfish, but he's my dad, and I love him and if he could get assessed etc then at least i'll know if I'm being silly worrying or not. WDYT?