3 years ago I moved my dad closer to me as he was lonely. Once I was seeing him daily I noticed his memory was not as good as it should be even though he was 79. We had tests and he was diagnosed with vascular dementia, over the last few years he’s managed quite well living on his own with my care he would repeat stuff a lot but nothing too bad. since Xmas hes deteriorated so much that I’ve moved him into sheltered housing with care. he’s forgotten how to use the tv remote, says he doesn’t know if it’s morning or afternoon, only knows he’s eaten (they do a hot meal at lunch) because he’s full, today I felt so sad after talking to him for a few hours, I mentioned mum who died 20 years ago and he looked at me with tears in his eyes “I can’t remember her name or what she looked like I just know she was small” he said, it was so hard seeing him in this confused but aware state he described it like his brain was slowly dying . I mentioned other relatives including his sister he looked at me and said I have a sister? She passed away 4 years ago but he remembers nothing, this has all gone in a matter of weeks....is this normal will he keep deteriorating at this speed, i don’t know how to deal with it, sometimes I laugh other times I just want to cry, I find it so exhausting trying to be patient showing him the same things every day, he looks like a lost child and I feel so helpless