Does this sound like dementia or something else? I'm her carer and every couple of months things become difficult and I struggle to cope.
She's often quite mopey and always tired. She says she's not depressed but is on medication for depression.
She's very pessimistic at times and catastrophises. She has IBS and has had investigations to rule out anything else but after an episode of diarrhoea or more abdominal pain she will worry she's got cancer.
She wakes up in cold sweats every now and again and feels sick and unwell even without the cold sweats. It appears to be anxiety more than anything as only first thing in the morning.
Any suggestion of seeing the GP is met with reluctance and she puts it off for weeks saying well what will they do?
She's often cancelling friends and activities due to these episodes of being unwell. What benefits her is getting out and about more and seeing people otherwise she's in on her own and mopes.
Any suggestion of more social things as suggested by the well being people is met with not wanting to do too much. She has two things she does each week but often misses one.
Doing some quick adding up of shopping she couldn't do a simple sum of 16+8 and blurted out 12. Said no that's not right not again blurted out 12. It was like some process had been bypassed in her brain.
Episodes of sitting with her head in her hands acting oddly. I can't describe it other than odd. A bit irritable but nothing I can put my finger on and it quickly passes.
Not able to filter out tasks and gets overwhelmed. Can't prioritise sometimes. Other times is fine and can arrange transport and appointments. Gets flustered.
Difficulty learning new things. Gets annoyed and defensive over things.
Reluctant to help self and résistent to any changes in routine.
Doesn't want to do anything before around 11am because it takes so long to get going although if needs be she can be up and out.
Sleeps fine. Eats fine but too much ultra processed food due to physical disability. Cooks no problems within limitations.
Doesn't seem to dress as nicely. Often odd combinations or wears things that are dirty. If I point it out she hasn't seen the mark which might be explained by cataracts that she has.
Doesn't communicate clearly. Misses out all the pertinent words so I don't know what she's trying to say. Speech is clear but missing words. As though I've joined a conversation part way through and missed the important bits.
She doesn't read things properly. She'll only read part of it and get the wrong end of the stick and be anxious about it. When it's read properly there's nothing to be anxious about. Conversely she's had letters where she did need to do something but hasn't and hasn't told me so I've not done it either.
No safety concerns although she's lax with security at home.
I do most of her banking and shopping and admin. I have LPA for everything.
It's the odd moments and missing words that I'm most concerned about. She's 84 and lovely and it's making me very sad. She worries she's getting dementia so I think she's aware somethings not quite right. We are very close so I have spoken to her about this and suggested we go to the GP. She wasn't keen but will do.
It's really upsetting me seeing her get older and I've got no siblings or anyone to help.