"If you met her you'd think she was pleasant and happy, provided you met her in the morning after a good night's sleep and chatted with her for only a few minutes. If you had to spend any more than five to 10 minutes with her you'd begin to notice something wasn't quite right. That window of time has narrowed; two years ago she appeared normal for 15 to 30 minutes. It's a good day now when she can hold it together in public for 10 minutes."
"We were in the thrift shop where she loves to browse but a mere five minutes before she said something obnoxious about a woman next to her on a cell phone. Sure, you may yourself have been tempted to say something scathing about cell phone users in shared spaces, but you'd also note whether that person was taking an important call and observe other context about the person and call. And then you'd apply your personal filter, bite your tongue, and quietly walk away."
Mother exhibits mixed dementia symptoms including Alzheimer's, frontotemporal features, and Parkinsonism without a firm diagnosis. Her cognitive and behavioral control deteriorates across the day, producing a shrinking window of normalcy—from 15–30 minutes two years ago to about ten minutes now. Brief public outings can reveal disinhibition and inappropriate comments due to loss of filter. Caregivers must supervise continuously to prevent self-harm or harm to others, implement home security measures, and prepare for eventual placement in memory care. Current strategies focus on protecting her and others while the family manages escalating safety and behavioral challenges.
Read at emptywheel
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]