"I've always considered my mom, Marvia, my best friend because of her love, kindness, and intelligence. We were so close that my son, Braxton, now 9, and I lived in an apartment complex right across the street from her home. We were in and out of each other's places, and she often babysat. As a single mom, I was particularly grateful for the support. She doted on her grandson, and the feeling was mutual."
"She is a former softball coach who has always prioritized her health. But three years ago, she started to act out of character. She began to experience forgetfulness and become easily irritated. There were a few times when she'd say, "Why don't you bring Braxton over? I want to see him." When I did, she'd ask, "What are y'all doing here?" We'd go out to eat, and she'd get angry with the wait staff for no reason. Then she'd start crying out of the blue."
Lamia Scott moved into her 75-year-old mother's home with her nine-year-old son after the mother received a diagnosis of Alzheimer's with agitation in December 2023. The mother, Marvia, had been a health-conscious former softball coach who began showing forgetfulness, irritability, unexpected crying, and aggressive behavior in public. Scott noticed safety dangers such as gas left on and difficulty persuading her mother to seek medical help because she denied problems. The grandson often helps calm his grandmother during agitated episodes. Scott finds caregiving difficult but gains strength from peer support and family proximity.
Read at Business Insider
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