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.

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.

Dementia and driving as you can imagine may not be the best combination.  I think we can all giggle at the picture I found today, but on the other hand it can also be a sad reality.

I have to admit I have been in the car with my mother, and so far she hasn't scared me.

I remember going to visit my grandparents for vacation when I was younger, and my grandmother could scare the daylights out of anyone driving.  Heck that was BEFORE the Alzheimer!  I was adult by the time her condition of Alzheimer's changed things, and we always drove after that until they finally took her driving privileges away.

According to the letter I received from my mother's doctor he doesn't seem to think mom should be driving at all.

Mom is a very social creature, and she has always participated in church, AARP functions, and once my father passed away a senior grief group.  She also gets her hair done on a regular basis.

We recently had a new major road in our area completed, and it saves us time for travel at this point.  During the Christmas dinner family members were telling her about the road, but I'm sure at this point if she continues to drive?  She will stick to what she is familiar with.

Tomorrow my brother is taking her to a rehab evaluation test for driving at a hospital.  He told her that this will either keep her insurance rates 'as is', or possibly reduce them.  That maybe true, but we all know the real reason behind this.

My brother called to see how this all works, and they told him they only report directly to the doctor.  I have to admit my heart dropped when I heard that.  I mentioned the doctor's opinion on the subject already.

Well I hope everyone had a pleasant holiday! As I had mentioned before we had an in home dementia evaluation done. My brother had received a letter from my mother's doctor regarding his recommendations, and he gave me a copy.

It was nice to read from the doctor that he felt my brother and I were taking the appropriate actions towards my mother. He had also mentioned what I'm sure most that deal with dementia patients do at first, and that is clearly 'resistance'. My mother is warming up to this reality slowly but surely.

I had to go over to my mother's house after the in home assessment, because it looked to me as if she was hoarding food. The refrigeration and freezer were packed, and the cabinets were just as full. I don't think she was hoarding as the condition you read about, because I don't think she knew what she had and what she didn't.  I have read that hoarding with dementia patients also makes them feel secure.  It was the in home evaluation that called my attention to this circumstance.

I went over to clear out the kitchen, and I only got as far as the refrigerator, freezer, and one cabinet. I had 9 to 10 black garbage bags full of either spoiled or expired food.

I tried to keep the conversation light as we worked, and asked her to wash down the shelves as I emptied them in the refrigerator. I figured it would keep her busy, and she wouldn't question every last item I pulled out. I will say after a while she just gave up, and went along with anything I dumped. I don't think she realized HOW much she had.

Dementia Patient's Clock Drawing Test

One of the items during in home dementia evaluation that was mentioned was the clock drawing test.

As I mentioned yesterday we had a In Home Dementia Evaluation or Assessment for mom.

One thing I noticed about yesterday that I didn't mention was I saw my brother answering the questions posed to her by the Geriatric Care Manager.  It didn't happen all the time, but I did notice he jumped in when he knew she would struggle answering the questions.  I'm sure that is our 'human side' isn't it?

Something tells me we will both be in the habit of that soon.

The clock drawing test makes so much sense, but I have to admit it has to be rather humiliating to the dementia patient.

The clock is very universal, and so I can see WHY they use it.  It would seem to me people all over the world?  Their clocks are all going to look the same.

In Home Dementia Assessment

My mother's doctor had ordered a home evaluation due to her dementia.  The business card basically reads, "Geriatric Care Management".

It was very tastefully done, and you could tell the woman that came went out of her way to make sure mother was comfortable.  I did truly appreciate the women that did the dementia evaluation. 

We should have the in home Dementia assessment by the end of next week, and both my brother and I got the impression it will validate our fears.

She did mention that mother is very high functioning, and yet in some very basic areas she is struggling.

The dementia assessor asked for permission to look into her refrigerator and cabinets within the kitchen.  I could tell my mother agreed thinking she truly had nothing to hide.

She has enough food for a family of 5 for 2 months, and then some.  I noticed 2 partial 1/2 gallons of milk, and both had expired last month.

After the dementia assessment was over I asked my brother to check the deep freezer downstairs, and it was in the same shape.

Tomorrow I will go back, and we will dump stuff together.