Dear Counsellor,
MY MOTHER is 68 years of age. Recently, I noticed that she has been forgetting things such as where she put her handbag, keys and her money. Whenever she loses anything she accuses the helper of stealing. She forgets to turn off the stove at times and she now has difficulty remembering the names of her grandchildren. My helper is getting burnt out and my family is getting frustrated. Could my mother be getting senile?
Dear Reader,
It does appear that your mother may be getting dementia, or as it is commonly called, becoming senile. The commonest cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease; another common cause is vascular dementia which is
due to multiple, small strokes in the brain. As is common in dementia, your mother is beginning to lose what we call her short-term memory and she is, therefore, unable to remember where she has placed common objects such as money and keys.
WANDERING AWAY
This condition is progressive, that is, her condition will get worse over time. You have to be on the lookout for your mother wandering away from the house and getting lost. This happens to a lot of persons with this condition. It is very painful when your family member can no longer remember your name and you are not able to have conversations with them.
Alzheimer's disease places great caregiving burden on the family. If you are able to employ an additional caregiver to take care of your mother this will help, as one person will burn out easily. Make sure your mother is properly evaluated by a doctor to rule out other treatable causes of dementia. Medications are available that will improve
your mother's memory and function although their effects are not usually sustained. Some-times placement in a nursing home may be necessary.
Our counsellors are here for you. You may write to them
at: Your Health, c/o The Gleaner, 7 North Street, Kingston; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
