These are symptoms listed that are not readily apparent to doctors and family who drop by for a quick visit, but are obviously a hindrance to her daily living.

#1- Forgetting names, misplacing objects, not knowing where things go or forgetting appointments.

#2- Repeating sentences and forgetting words. She forgets that she mentioned something and repeats it again and again. In a conversation about her lack of car, she can repeat one sentence up to half a dozen times.

#3- trouble following directions, unable to follow recipes, make decisions on a menu.

#4- She also has a higher tendency to be fearful or suspicious as a result of the confusion, has accused multiple people of stealing her belongings. Various accusations in the last 6 months…. she thought Joe stole her watch, (found in her bed), the housekeeper stole her purse (found under the bathroom sink), another housekeeper stole one shoe and her dirty socks, (found under the shelves), Andrea and her girls took her clothing at their last visit, (they did not), neighborhood kids came in and took her DVD out of its case, (misplaced).

#5- trouble following a conversation and loses concentration before the other person has finished speaking. Although she will fake it and has a generic response to most conversation types, such as politics, it’s “how did that guy get to be president?” And “how much longer has he got?”. But she cannot converse in any depth.

#6- She looses track of time, not remembering dates or even seasons of the year. The other day we were enjoying the weather and I said not much longer before we will see snow, she responded “it doesn’t snow here!” She lives very much in the moment, if she is bored, she is “always bored” even if we just got done with 6 hours of shopping, doctors appointments and eating out. If we tell her we are going somewhere, we have to be ready to go right then, she has no concept of time or patience.

These are things you cannot readily see until living with her for a week or more. She is still fiercely independent and grasping to hold on to what remains, faking memories, unwilling to acknowledge her deficits, and chalking it up to “just getting old”.

Published by KaGardn1

I'm trying to live the most meaningful and intentional life possible. Minimalist, Vegetarian, Fierce protector of a full night sleep, Mother, Wife, Daughter -caretaker, Sister, Friend, Nurse. Sharing day to day life with family and friends. A quest to minimize effects of Alzheimer's Disease. View all posts by KaGardn1