Hi, everyone
Just joined this forum because I'm worried about my parents. My dad (85) was diagnosed with vascular dementia last year, but since giving up alcohol, his condition has improved quite a lot. However, my mum (82) has been going downhill fast over the past year. She frequently forgets things – she sometimes asks me the same question three times in the course of a 20-minute conversation, with no recollection of having asked it, and keeps forgetting how to get email on her computer, something she's been doing without problem for years. However, when we try to talk to her about it, she just says she's 'getting old and silly' and brushes off any concerns. We suspect she's worried about the consequences of admitting that she has a problem, as Dad was sectioned for a couple of months last year and has lost his driving licence. However, when we (my sister, aunt and I) have tried to make enquiries with social services and my mum's GP about getting her assessed, they all say that they can't do anything unless Mum asks for help herself, which we can can't see her doing. So we're caught in a Catch-22 situation.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how we can persuade her to ask her GP for a referral to the memory clinic? We live in Scotland.
Any advice gratefully received!
Just joined this forum because I'm worried about my parents. My dad (85) was diagnosed with vascular dementia last year, but since giving up alcohol, his condition has improved quite a lot. However, my mum (82) has been going downhill fast over the past year. She frequently forgets things – she sometimes asks me the same question three times in the course of a 20-minute conversation, with no recollection of having asked it, and keeps forgetting how to get email on her computer, something she's been doing without problem for years. However, when we try to talk to her about it, she just says she's 'getting old and silly' and brushes off any concerns. We suspect she's worried about the consequences of admitting that she has a problem, as Dad was sectioned for a couple of months last year and has lost his driving licence. However, when we (my sister, aunt and I) have tried to make enquiries with social services and my mum's GP about getting her assessed, they all say that they can't do anything unless Mum asks for help herself, which we can can't see her doing. So we're caught in a Catch-22 situation.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how we can persuade her to ask her GP for a referral to the memory clinic? We live in Scotland.
Any advice gratefully received!