Hello. I am new here ? I adore my Dad but we have been estranged on and off for 7 years due to him supporting my abusive ex husband when we divorced. I have tried to re establish a relationship to no avail and we last spoke 18 months ago. However I am very close to one of my uncles.
I occasionally ask about my Dad and the other day had a strange feeling something was wrong with him that was being kept from me and it turns out this was true. My Dad is apparently "wandering" - I am unsure if this was meant physically or mentally and is just not behaving like his usual self. He doesn't seem to be concentrating whilst driving and actually ran into the back of my Stepmother's car. He pressed the accelerator instead of the brake but he's always been a very careful driver. Every Christmas he chooses a special gift for a friend who lives far away and visits but apparently this year he made no mention of it. He runs a shooting group but my other uncle (who regularly talks to the uncle I'm close to) says it's like he's lost the ability to organise the members - almost as if he's physically but not mentally present. He has done noticeably odd things like stand in a field for 10 minutes staring into space and then just get back in his car.
My Dad has had a lifelong, close relationship with my other uncle but has pretty much stopped all communication with him. Other family members are now apparently commenting my Dad doesn't seem right and this has been going on for at least 6 months.
I am shocked because my Dad has always been extremely active and sharp as a tack. He is 75 but was still working last time we spoke. My Grandad developed some kind of dementia at around 80 and went downhill fast. His Father was sectioned due to dementia but he was in his nineties but there does seem to be a genetic link.
I would be interested if what I'm describing fits with signs of dementia? I have no idea if he has been to the doctor's. He's always been very proactive re his health. Even though he's getting on in years I find myself feeling shocked and upset for him which o guess is everyone's reaction on here the their loved one.
I occasionally ask about my Dad and the other day had a strange feeling something was wrong with him that was being kept from me and it turns out this was true. My Dad is apparently "wandering" - I am unsure if this was meant physically or mentally and is just not behaving like his usual self. He doesn't seem to be concentrating whilst driving and actually ran into the back of my Stepmother's car. He pressed the accelerator instead of the brake but he's always been a very careful driver. Every Christmas he chooses a special gift for a friend who lives far away and visits but apparently this year he made no mention of it. He runs a shooting group but my other uncle (who regularly talks to the uncle I'm close to) says it's like he's lost the ability to organise the members - almost as if he's physically but not mentally present. He has done noticeably odd things like stand in a field for 10 minutes staring into space and then just get back in his car.
My Dad has had a lifelong, close relationship with my other uncle but has pretty much stopped all communication with him. Other family members are now apparently commenting my Dad doesn't seem right and this has been going on for at least 6 months.
I am shocked because my Dad has always been extremely active and sharp as a tack. He is 75 but was still working last time we spoke. My Grandad developed some kind of dementia at around 80 and went downhill fast. His Father was sectioned due to dementia but he was in his nineties but there does seem to be a genetic link.
I would be interested if what I'm describing fits with signs of dementia? I have no idea if he has been to the doctor's. He's always been very proactive re his health. Even though he's getting on in years I find myself feeling shocked and upset for him which o guess is everyone's reaction on here the their loved one.
