Could this still be mild cognitive impairment?

[HeliotropeAlba]

A 77 year-old relative was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment 10 years ago.
Two years ago episodes of disorientation started, e.g. mixing up the time (8am v. 8pm), thinking I was in his area although I live far away, saying he was waiting for a call about his late father's property which had been sold years before, etc.
And yet he still shops, picks up his meds, keeps appointments, pays bills, showers, etc.
He is now undergoing a memory re-evaluation - had the first neuropsychology session yesterday. He's had a brain MRI and all the blood tests.
I know no one can predict the future, and MNers are not testing him, but I'm wondering if anyone can say if it is possible that this could still fall into the category of mild cognitive impairment? Or do the episodes of disorientation mean that he will be diagnosed with early dementia.
Of course I don't want him to be demented, but I feel that if there is a dementia diagnosis it will be easier for me to persuade him to accept services when they become necessary.

I have POA for Health and Finance.
Thanks for any thoughts.

If you are far away, and with respect, are you sure he’s managing with meds, preparing food , getting a wash etc? Sometimes on the phone things sound all fine but when you go and stay for a few days you might realize he’s actually struggling . Getting the results of tests will help you know a bit better where you stand and then basically if it’s dementia,there’s no rime or reason as far as I can tell. We have decided to just bumble along as best we can, trying to give our LO the best quality of life possible while protecting our sanity too. Good regular carers ( or helper/drivers/cleaners/ friends …what ever term is palatable to your LO) are a God send if he can afford it and it will take stress off you a little, moving forward. Try and get a two or three and the always the same ones if at all possible so that there aren’t too many changes and trust can be built up.Good luck on this journey if it does turn out to be dementia.

@Loulouloops Many thanks for responding and for your kind wishes and suggestions.
The memory nurse did the initial assessment in the home, and said that he and the house looked OK. The neuropsychologist included me by video for the initial interview and he looked presentable. I call every evening and check about the meals and the meds and remind him to lock the door and keep the phone near him. He was offered daily care visits, but he refused, and as he is still deemed to have capacity, there was nothing I could do.

Sending best wishes to you. I'm sure your LO is very well-looked after.

Thank you for posting this, and also to @Loulouloops for the post. From what I have had to learn, the road to Alzheimers and Dementia is really different for everyone, but it I think it steadily does get worse. My mum aged 79 at the time was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. We were in the middle of covid and she was repeating herself, forgetting things, neglecting things. Got out of covid and she was diagnosed with Alzheimers, and because she had a fall and was in a lot of pain for a few months (could not walk, had problems with toilet etc, bed sores, and deeply emotional - clinging to us) but we eventually got her "back on her feet" to coin a phrase, it was really hard, sometimes just from the chair to the window and back a few times a day, and she did not really want to do it either. My dad, same age, could not understand, but he did his best. We managed to get some medication from the Doctor because the most distressing thing was she was crying all of the time. That helped. When we finally got the diagnosis of Alzheimers, it probably helped my Dad in that he finally realised there was something medically wrong. Since then he has put herculean efforts in to see to her practical needs, he has no life himself, just seeing to my Mum, I go round with dinners for them because he cannot really cook (he never had to) but he does do his best when I am away. In the last 12 months she has got far worse in some ways, she cannot hold anything in her mind for even 10 seconds, and will do something or say something on repeat continually, she is stressed by everything (nothing) and rings constantly in tears to me, my sister, her granddaughters to come and see to her (they see her plenty and love her) sometimes 30 times a day. I am really sorry, I have talked for a long time about my own personal experience but what I know about the journey is a) there is some sophistication / deception even, by those that travelling on it - it took me 2 years to get the diagnosis for my Mum because every time we had a medical appointment, she presented herself extremely well, like an elderly person who was a bit forgetful "it's just my age". b) they say they are doing the "things", but they are not doing the "things" (meds was bad for us, take none, or take a weeks worth in one go) - however take some comfort that that medical professionals have been in and they are reporting positively. I am glad you have POA for both, it is a bugger to process, and it is a lot easier in this respect. I am sorry for you, we all know we have to our best, I am doing it for my mum who was the best mum ever and give her best years to bringing me and my sister up, my children the same - she was and still IS a great Nana and Great Nana now. xxx

Everyone's journey is different but one thing is probably certain, it will get worse over time.

With both my parents, it was being forgetful etc but what really accelerated the decline with each of them was a bad fall in which they spent more than a week in hospital. I don't know if they fell because their brain had deteriorated (balance gets affected) or they fell by accident and something about being bedbound and in any unfamiliar environment in hospital accelerated the decline, literally as if they fell off a cliff after they came back.

So be careful with your relative if he is living alone. It is better if there is someone to check in on him regularly. It might be an idea to get him a panic button which he can wear to call for help or which senses that he has fallen and sends out an alarm. It can also have a location tracker.

The challenge is to get him to agree to wear it. Ultimately, he may have to go into some form of assisted living. I am a big fan of it, if finances allow.

Many thanks@blueshoesand@novocaine4thesoul for sharing your experiences and for your kind words.
I know I have to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. I feel like once I have that diagnosis of dementia certain things will be easier to put into place.
I'm prepared for the assisted living option since I couldn't be a full-time carer and I want him to be safe.
Sending compassion to you both. x

Hi new on here sh has been accessed at yodc had a, scan and has been asked back for an appointment anyone had this would they ask him back if there was nothing wrong he's not let me go to any appointments and has said he dosrnt want me in the room for this next one safe to say he's not been easy to live with no empathy for people s feelings forgetful struggling with words anyone had this should I be worried thanks