Taking parent to the Doctors

[awayhay]

My Mum blatantly has dementia or something with very similar symptoms. She is not capable of
looking after herself properly.

She hasn’t been to the Doctors about this and she’s refusing to let us take her.

What can I do?

You could reassure her that there are lots of, easily treatable*, conditions and deficiencies that can cause memory loss and confusion. Say that if she had a discussion with the dr so they could order a simple blood test, she could soon be back to her old self but, that leaving it too long, it could mean the symptoms would be irreversible.

Failing that, is she on any regular medication for BP or anything? You could write to the dr and ask for them to request she has her medication monitoring blood tests and request they add those on. If she isn’t on anything that needs routinely checking then there isn’t a lot you can do, does she have any friends who she might listen to?

*Low folate
low B12
Vitamin D deficiency
Thyroid issues
Low ferritin
All the above, if bad enough, can cause dementia like symptoms

You can email the GP and explain that you are concerned that she may have memory loss and you are trying to “avoid an unnecessary hospital admission”.

By emailing you have proof that you’ve raised the issue and the phrase “want to avoid an unnecessary hospital admission” usually prompts them into action.

You’ll need to make it plain that you don’t want to know anything, you’re just very concerned about your DM’s decline.

Do you have POA for health and finance? It might be worth applying for these first if that’s possible.

And do come on over to the Elderly Parents section @awayhay. You should get lots of information and support in there too