My Mother's Journey With Dementia

Mild Cognitive Impairment Brain

I remember when my first family member was diagnosed with Alzheimer, and some of the definitions people used confused me.   One of those definitions I wasn't perfectly clear about was Mild Cognitive Impairment.  I remember hearing that, and saying 'what is mild cognitive impairment'? 

Cognitive pertains to our mental processes of perception, memory, judgment, and of course reasoning. Its our way of processing thought and information.

As we get older most have some cognitive decline, because that is part of the aging process. It may take us a little longer to remember a word, or remember someone's name. We notice forgetfulness may gradually increase. In most cases these changes aren't bad enough to interfere with our normal activities.

On the other hand, mild cognitive impairment is more than just 'forgetfulness'.

Some of the Symptoms of Mild Cognitive Impairment:
You tend to lose your train of thought during conversations with people. You lose the ability to truly keep with the theme of the conversations. For example, you and your friends are talking about the senior bus trip you just got back from. You can't seem to keep up and understand the conversation.

As I mentioned last time I will give a 'readers digest' version of what my mother in law saw as we dealt with my grandfather. She saw all three relatives, but my grandfather's story is one that ticks me off royal! She got to see us up close and personal WHY we hate this disease, and I can't blame her for saying - Dementia is different than Alzheimer!

After what we went through?  The avoidance, denial, and stigmas attached to Dementia and Alzheimer?  I hate it but its understandable.  I think it effects people when they see how bad things can get.  I see it has human nature in some ways, but on the hand I want to say, "PEOPLE WAKE UP!"

My second grandparent that had Alzheimer's would be my grandfather. We called him Poppaw. We as a family had a hard time of it helping to care for him. We lived 1,000 miles away, and my grandmother (Mimi) and he were a very traditional southern couple.

Mimi made a promise to him regarding NO nursing home, and letting him to die in their house. That is all well and good, but my grandmother was in her mid 80's at this time. She as well as starting to slip mentally, and I'm sure part of it was the stress of caregiving.

My mother was of course in contact with the state they lived in, and we found out very quickly how individualistic the state was.

It was hard to get them to cooperate when it was clear to us that we needed to have Poppaw removed from the house. It made no sense the resistance that we got, because he was clearly a danger to himself and others.

You would have thought they would have CLUE one after the police picked him up from wandering the streets of his town, and having to bring him back home (this happened more than once)! That's just ONE example!  Another would be the soot on the ceiling of their home from a fire at the stove.

My brother called this morning, and mother canceled the driver's test.  He said that she genuinely doesn't feel good.  I'm sure part of it is nerves over the test, but she was vomiting all last night.  It sounds like they have rescheduled things for tomorrow.

He was mentioning that he feels he needs to go over, and take away her keys to the car.  I mentioned to him that I have purposely been placing myself in the position when visiting with her to have her drive when we had to go places.  I have done this a couple of times recently, and she never scared me so far.

I think that relieved him a bit, but at times he can be rather laid back.  You never really know, but I think he was okay.  I can sure understand his position, and maybe I'm wrong as well.  I'm thankful we can talk without getting nasty.  I don't believe either of us are like that, but when emotions are on high alert?  You just never know what can happen I suppose.  I think we even each other out pretty well.  I admire him very much.