When You Witness Cognitive Decline, Step in with Respect
Dear Carol: My mom and I have always had a good relationship, and I’ve admired her sharp brain and great humor. She was a realist, too, so years ago, she assigned me Power of Attorney. Now, she’s forgotten all that. She insists on managing her bank accounts and investments even though she gets confused and makes mistakes. Her doctor has diagnosed her as being in the earlier stage of dementia, but she resists help. How do I get her to accept assistance before chaos occurs? – PL
Dear PL: I’m sorry that you and your mom are facing this challenge. As you’re seeing, even when discussions are held ahead of time and legal documents are in place, the changing brain can negate all the hard work. The person affected by brain changes might still feel that they are doing fine, or they might simply be in denial. They might say the doctor doesn’t know…
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