Worried about aunt's cognition

debodun

debodun

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Location
way upstate in New York, USA
I have an aunt that saves me the word puzzles out of the newspapers she gets, the leaves them in my car when she gets to church since I always get there before her because I attend the early Bible study. This week when I came out of church to get in my car, the puzzles weren't there. I wasn't worried then thinking she forgot to bring them (that's happened before).

She called me later on Sunday and asked where I was. I said that I was at church, but she responded that she didn't see my car in the parking lot (I usually park in nearly the same place each week). Then I told her I'd stop by her house Wednesday morning since I have to pass close to her house when I go to the garage to get my car fixed. She just called me and asked why I didn't stop to get the puzzles (this is Monday). I reiterated that it was on Wednesday that I'd be stopping. There was a long silence, then she said she'd just leave them on her side porch for me to pick up whenever. BTW, she's 89.
 

If it had just been church yesterday I'd have suspected she didn't change her clocks. But if she isn't sure what day it is, or if she normally can remember the day you say you'll come and now she can't, I'd think she should see her doctor in case she's having a problem with a medication or needs a medication, or possibly is starting a final decline sort of situation.

It's so scary to see people get old.
 
debodun said:
I am not as cognitive as I once was, either. Very bad short-term memory. My problem is - I realize it.
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Same here for both my wife and I. And it is very annoying when you're aware of it. In some ways, it's probably worse when you don't even realize it and friends or relatives have trouble making you aware. (We're 91 and 88 btw)
 
SeniorSally said:
UTI maybe?
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I'd wager you're right, Sally. Cognitive losses from dementia are rarely this sudden unless there's a stroke or other catastrophic event.

UTIs? They make people in our age group absolutely daffy - and hit as hard and fast as like a freight train. Thank heavens there's such an easy medication fix.

My MIL became (quite literally) catatonic when she had one. I've never seen anything like it. My mother, on the other hand, became extremely confused, suspicious and paranoid.

Can you get her to a doctor, Deb? ASAP?
 
StarSong said:
I'd wager you're right, Sally. Cognitive losses from dementia are rarely this sudden unless there's a stroke or other catastrophic event.

UTIs? They make people in our age group absolutely daffy - and hit as hard and fast as like a freight train. Thank heavens there's such an easy medication fix.

My MIL became (quite literally) catatonic when she had one. I've never seen anything like it. My mother, on the other hand, became extremely confused, suspicious and paranoid.

Can you get her to a doctor, Deb? ASAP?
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It was the same with my mother when she was in her upper 80s and 90s.

It was also surprising and a bit disappointing that the staff in her assisted living facility was not more aware and on top of it.
 
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