Worried about mums memory

[Peopleplease]

Mum has always been a bit scatty - front door left wide open, telling me things and then forgetting she’s told me, this dates back 20 years. She’s 74 now.

The last year or two it did seem to be getting a bit worse but still nothing too worrying. She has depression (long history of medication) and really bad knee pain which means she’s not sleeping well at all.

My aunt, who she lives with, called me this morning to say she’s worried about her too. That in town yesterday she was forgetting where shops, that she’s been going to all her life, were.

I’m going to get a doctor appointment for her and tell mum it’s for her knee but tell the receptionist in advance I’m worried about her memory.

I’m not sure if I’m after advice or want to get this off my chest.

In case you don't know what to expect, the doctor will probably refer your dm to a memory clinic, where they will carry out various simple tests of her memory and see how she scores. This will determine if she just has mild cognitive impairment, or whether it is more severe. If her score is at the bottom end it could mean she may have dementia but they would probably also be looking at other aspects, like whether she gets lost when in familiar places. Wishing you all the best.

Do you know what meds she is currently using? Currently trying to get mine off the benzodiazepines she likes as they are really impacting her.