Just to say hello and I'm impressed and heartened by the range of experience and knowledge from fellow members. I am in the foothills of being a carer. My 88 year old mother has lived with us for 3 years and from being an independent and strong-willed person she has become pretty dependent on us over a relatively short period. She has a range of low-level medical problems and is increasingly immobile but is seems pretty clear that she now has some form of dementia and we are awaiting a referral to the hospital services locally for assessment. She spends most of her time in bed and (and is unwilling to be 'stimulated') although we do get together for supper and I spend time with her and help her with various things. She increasingly doesn't understand what we say and has almost no short term memory. We have a brilliant GP surgery. It's fair to say that I'm daunted by the future.