Alzheimer's Disease Support Group
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration with declining activities of daily living and neuropsychiatric symptoms or behavioral changes. An early symptom is memory loss (amnesia), usually manifesting as minor forgetfulness that becomes pronounced with illness progression, with relative...
I just joined this group because my husbands mother has signs of Alzeimers. It has not been diagnosed, but from what he saw in the last ten days, they were definite signs of Alzheimer's. She has always refused to go to a doctor. Any suggestions on how to get her to the GP, the first doctor in the process to come to a diagnosis?
Well you could use the philosophy and tell her that she could go to the dr and prove to all of you that you're wrong.
Also that all of you want her around and she needs to help you kelp her by getting her mileage checked :)
Your MIL needs to see a doctor for a full physical to see if there is something going on that could be causing this change in behavior, especially if it is a sudden change. Heart (vascular) disease causes a tremendous about of dementia. The strokes, TIAs and blockages can do permanent or temporary damage to the brain. Treating the heart disease can prevent or delay further damage. The other causes are not easy to diagnosis but the doctors use symptoms and there are some medications that have shown promise for delaying onset.
I think you and your husband need to be completely honest with your MIL. Sit her down face-to-face and tell her (let your husband do the talking) that you have noticed some changes in her and you are concerned. You want her to see a doctor to find out if there is something going on that could be addressed.
Do not say dementia. Find less threatening things like forgetful, confused, upset. And let her know that you aren't looking to force anything on her and going now is important so that she can decide what, if anything, she wants to do.
Thanks for your advice. I passed it on to my husband.
If you think of it in terms of when we were children and sick, our parents took us to the doctors, like it or not. We weren't given a choice. When it becomes apparent that the once competent parent isn't thinking rationally and is not making the appropriate decisions for their own care, then it's time to do the role reversal. You make the appointment and take them; kicking and screaming if you have to.
Visiting the GP is just the first step in getting a diagnosis of whatever memory dysfunction your MIL is suffering from. Only a doctor can determine if this is a medical condition causing confusion or if this is some type of dementia.
I hope it goes well for you. I've been through this a few times; not fun but very necessary.
PD