I see this question has been asked on here before but looking for some advice re my own situation with my mum.
She was diagnosed with mild dementia a few months ago. She is aware that she has memory problems and confusion, but it's never bothered her and she's never seen the need for all the tests etc, she's just gone along with it. She always put it down to old age. She's 73.
Obviously the day she was diagnosed she became aware, and was understandably upset and quiet. Since then I haven't mentioned it again and nor has she.I refer to her new medication as the 'memory pill'.
There have been a couple of times recently where she has been upset when I've had to explain that she's mixed something up (I try not to bother pointing things out unless it is absolutely necessary). On the occasions she has became upset she moans 'what is wrong with me' etc, and this morning she was in tears saying that she felt useless, both to me and to herself, and apologising for the 'burden'. She also mentioned that she's not been sleeping well as she lies in bedding worrying about being 'useless'.
I have explained that it is something in her brain making her like this and it's not her fault, but wondering if I should just come out with it and use the word dementia, so she knows exactly what is causing this in the hope it brings some clarity for her. I don't want to upset her even more, although the chances are if I tell her she will have forgotten about it in the next day or so.
It's such a tough one and I can see from previous threads that people have struggled with it. I guess there is no definitive answer!
She was diagnosed with mild dementia a few months ago. She is aware that she has memory problems and confusion, but it's never bothered her and she's never seen the need for all the tests etc, she's just gone along with it. She always put it down to old age. She's 73.
Obviously the day she was diagnosed she became aware, and was understandably upset and quiet. Since then I haven't mentioned it again and nor has she.I refer to her new medication as the 'memory pill'.
There have been a couple of times recently where she has been upset when I've had to explain that she's mixed something up (I try not to bother pointing things out unless it is absolutely necessary). On the occasions she has became upset she moans 'what is wrong with me' etc, and this morning she was in tears saying that she felt useless, both to me and to herself, and apologising for the 'burden'. She also mentioned that she's not been sleeping well as she lies in bedding worrying about being 'useless'.
I have explained that it is something in her brain making her like this and it's not her fault, but wondering if I should just come out with it and use the word dementia, so she knows exactly what is causing this in the hope it brings some clarity for her. I don't want to upset her even more, although the chances are if I tell her she will have forgotten about it in the next day or so.
It's such a tough one and I can see from previous threads that people have struggled with it. I guess there is no definitive answer!