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Get Thee to a Lawyer

 The moment we found out Mom had dementia we went to a lawyer. If your loved one has anything that is considered property or savings you need to do the same thing. The sooner the better. You need to get Power of Attorney, a Will, and possibly an advanced Medical Directive. Power of Attorney: This gives the person named the power to make financial  decisions for them. For example you're mom ends up in the hospital. If she has bills due you would be able to pay for it for her. That's a very simple example, but I hope you get the idea. Power of attorney doesn't have to go into effect right away either. You can have it for years and not use it but it's there in case you need it. A Will: if your loved one has any items, a house, a car, jewelry, etc you should have a will. That way there is no fighting. Hopefully. It doesn't have to be this elaborate thing. An Advanced Medical Directive: Most people don't want to be kept alive by pumps and tubes. It's a sad thing
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Figuring out what to do...

Like I said we knew there was something wrong. We all have issues with our memories from time to time. I don't know how many times I've sat something down and then can't remember where I put it, or walk into a room and forget why. Mom's memory trouble went further. My mom didn't have a regular doctor. She went to one of those chains for doctor services. In my area it's known as Patient first. There is nothing wrong with these doctors, but they didn't see her enough, only when she didn't feel good. I forced her to go to an in network doctor connected to the hospitals in our area. This way any doctor could access her files. The doctor gave her a cognitive test with the clock.  She asked her to put 4:20 on the clock. Mom drew the clock quickly but started looking at me when she needed help with the rest. I knew better than to give her any real help, but it was my mom. I couldn't leave her hanging. "What about the numbers?" "Oh,
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In the beginning...

There are only two of us and my sister lives in another state. Like most we tried ignoring that mom was getting older. She still worked, had a friend she went to dinner with a couple times a month and when she called we knew we needed to clear our schedule because she'd keep us on the phone for a while. But then she got sick on me - it was some sort of stomach virus - and she landed in the hospital then a rehab center. Since she lost so much time at her job and she was old enough to retire that was what she did. She still met with her friends, and had a group she was involved with. We didn't worry. Then the conversations on the phone got shorter. We started noticing she wasn't bathing properly and her cloths were soiled when we did see her. My sister and I started to push her to move in with me, which she refused. She didn't want to lose her independence. Now understand that my mom hasn't been that steady on her feet for a while. She took a spill and we went
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My mom has been diagnosed with dementia

No one wants to say that, but it has happened. I'm an author by trade and want to share my journey with my mom. I know some days will be painful but some days will be joyful. This will be a bit like a journal. I'll probably rant at times. If I learn something I'll share. If I have questions I'll ask. I love my mom and hate that this is going to happen I'm just glad we caught it early...or early enough. 
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