Hello and my apologies as I am sure this question has been answered prior to me asking.
The situation we have is one of my close relatives, male, retired 84 year old businessman, has had a drastic change in the last 3 months. Other family members have spoken to me about it in the last three weeks and I would suggest he see a Doctor but I would not know how to get someone who has been in charge and completely coherent and healthy his entire life to all of a sudden see a Doctor for something he possibly has but probably does not know or want to know. Unfortunately I cannot even address the situation since I am not supposed to know about it, but everyone seems to know about it and see it.
The individual in question has begun drinking, he was a glass or two of wine a week guy but is now having episodes. After 84 years this is something that has started in only the last three months.
He has gotten somewhat aggressive. Accused his 84 year old wife of having boyfriends. The woman never leaves the House, does not own a Computer or Smart phone and has no interest in it. She rarely ever even calls anyone other than family members. And she is ill.
Out of the blue he packed his bags, because of his wife's imaginary boyfriends, and left. They have been married over 60 years with not a single marital problem. Now, at 84 he believes she has boyfriends.
He saw the Police in his yard. There were no police in his yard.
Out of character he no longer speaks with his wife. When he packed his bags, he went out of town and did not contact anyone for three weeks. Again, completely out of character for a man who talked to family, visited with family, attended every dinner and everything else for 84 years.
So my question really is this. Is it possible for these apparent symptoms of dementia, which I have read that these are some symptoms, to manifest that rapidly? To go from what appeared to be perfectly normal to what you read above in less than three months?
At the beginning about three months ago he also began stumbling and bumping into things like he forgot they were there. I did not read anything about this being a symptom. But it was also strange as this individual was still jogging and in apparent perfect health only three months ago.
How exactly do you get someone who has been in charge all his life to see a Doctor suggesting he might have this terrible disease? He may not want to know, but that is not going to stop it from progressing.
His entire family is shook up by what is going on.
Thanks
Richard.
The situation we have is one of my close relatives, male, retired 84 year old businessman, has had a drastic change in the last 3 months. Other family members have spoken to me about it in the last three weeks and I would suggest he see a Doctor but I would not know how to get someone who has been in charge and completely coherent and healthy his entire life to all of a sudden see a Doctor for something he possibly has but probably does not know or want to know. Unfortunately I cannot even address the situation since I am not supposed to know about it, but everyone seems to know about it and see it.
The individual in question has begun drinking, he was a glass or two of wine a week guy but is now having episodes. After 84 years this is something that has started in only the last three months.
He has gotten somewhat aggressive. Accused his 84 year old wife of having boyfriends. The woman never leaves the House, does not own a Computer or Smart phone and has no interest in it. She rarely ever even calls anyone other than family members. And she is ill.
Out of the blue he packed his bags, because of his wife's imaginary boyfriends, and left. They have been married over 60 years with not a single marital problem. Now, at 84 he believes she has boyfriends.
He saw the Police in his yard. There were no police in his yard.
Out of character he no longer speaks with his wife. When he packed his bags, he went out of town and did not contact anyone for three weeks. Again, completely out of character for a man who talked to family, visited with family, attended every dinner and everything else for 84 years.
So my question really is this. Is it possible for these apparent symptoms of dementia, which I have read that these are some symptoms, to manifest that rapidly? To go from what appeared to be perfectly normal to what you read above in less than three months?
At the beginning about three months ago he also began stumbling and bumping into things like he forgot they were there. I did not read anything about this being a symptom. But it was also strange as this individual was still jogging and in apparent perfect health only three months ago.
How exactly do you get someone who has been in charge all his life to see a Doctor suggesting he might have this terrible disease? He may not want to know, but that is not going to stop it from progressing.
His entire family is shook up by what is going on.
Thanks
Richard.
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