What should you do if you notice a parent acting odd and forgetful?

[Ruralbliss]

I've noticed my mum saying some strange things and acting a teeny bit odd. I think she's probably getting mildly confused but making like she isn't so I won't notice.

Todays examples:
"What time will we go?"
(Me) "Midday"
"Ah great. What time is that?"

Where's primark? Having walked to Primark to meet my daughters and standing outside primark.

"When are we going to see Xyz?" "In July?" "When's July"

I've started writing them down at the back of my diary. I guess I just observe and record at the moment but then what if it continues and/or gets worse?
Talk to her?
Invoke a GP? Can I do that? Make an appointment for another person? Wait until she's really befuddled.

Am clueless and off to Google but imagine there is sadly some rich experience on here so reaching out.

Should probably get her to the GP for a check up. UTIs can cause those symptoms in elderly people, also to get baselined for early cognitive decline.

I would get her looked at sooner rather than later.

Also talk about POA if you haven’t already

Yes check first for a UTI. Very common symptoms for that before getting memory tests etc

Good idea @toomuchlaundry I will do that. She's dire at admin and hates talking of old people stuff (eg when moving and house hunting I suggested limiting the search to bungalows as she had osteoporosis and recently smashed her pelvis.
The response to that was "I don't think I'm quite ready for a bungalow yet Rural!"

Go to a solicitor and ask about your options wrt POA, etc.

You cannot get this done after she gets formally diagnosed with alzheimers. Don't let the grass grow under your feet.

If she hasn't made a will, then you're going to have to talk her into that too.

Thanks @mathanxiety that's helpful intel.

Yep no will and no intention to make a will either. Her belief is it will be straightforward for us as brother and sister to divide any remaining cash up.

I'll chat POA with her when I get back and give some scenarios like her having an unexpected stroke and me not being able to pay for care.

Last time I raised it she was massively in denial and thought it was a dodgy request of me trying to get her cash.
She's recently come into a significant amount of cash.

Hopefully my track record of moving much nearer her and popping in to see her most days, driving her places, mowing her lawn, picking up her many prescriptions etc mean that she sees I'm not a scammer.

Might get my brother to have a word. As the golden (feckless jobless miles away) child she always listens to him.
🙄

Just be careful she doesn't name your brother on the POA if you (by the sounds of it) will be the one doing her shopping and paying her bills.

I agree with PP, get a GP appointment ASAP in case it's a UTI.

Hunt for Teepa Snow on YouTube. She has lots of videos which help families recognise early signs and gives suggestions for practical support

If she doesn't make a will she can't make your brother an executor, and you'll most likely get letters of administration in first, so there's that?
PoA is handy though. I have it set up - thank God - have seen what it can be like otherwise.... younger, single friend recently had a huge stroke and it's nigh impossible for him to manage his own affairs, can't get anywhere, can't reliably remember stuff, will fall asleep at random moments, frequently. His brother is kind of sorting stuff from the other end of the country, but it would have been so so so much easier if he'd picked a trusted local friend and set up PoA.

If she's worried about getting a POA, go
through a solicitor.
It was the only way I could convince my mother to do it.
To her, it seemed more professional & 'proper' than doing it online.
The fact solicitors were involved meant she accepted their explanation of how it worked whereas when I explained it in exactly the same fashion, I didn't know what I was talking about.

Yes it cost about £800 for both POAs back in 2015 but it was worth every penny as I have had no problems accessing funds for my mother's care & it was effortless to take over her affairs.