Normal confusion or the beginning of dementia?

[LarkRize]

Hoping to get some advice from the experienced posters on here… Thanks in advance…

My elderly ma lives in sheltered accommodation and loves it. One of the highlights is that there is a lunch every day where she meets lots of other residents (she loves meeting new people).

My brother went to see her this week and in the evening took her out to eat at a local restaurant. She had a great time but at the end went round introducing herself to the other tables(!). Apparently she had forgotten that she was not “at home” in the restaurant at her sheltered accommodation.

She is at the stage where she is becoming very forgetful - conversations are repeated and her short term memory is very poor but she has capacity and is able to make decisions and hold sensible conversations, on the whole. Is this latest episode something to worry about, do you think?

Well I would worry and have her cognitive abilities assessed.

I would suggest a trip to the GP to rule out an infection which could be impairing her cognitive function.

Do you think she'd be willing to go?

I’m not sure - she is convinced she is fit, well and mentally sharp so it will be tricky.

If it goes on I could liaise with her GP but it could definitely result in her being very cross and feeling undermined. I have POA so if she really is on a dementia spiral we have some protection but how bad does it need to get before that would be triggered?

I've spoken to the GP before now and asked them to speak to a loved one "for a well man/well woman check or a medicine review".