ALX Stylebook - Ask Dr. Lauren: "Caring For Family Members With Dementia"
Dear Dr. Lauren: My 81-year-old mom has been diagnosed with dementia and early Alzheimer’s. She lives with me. The changes in her are subtle and sometimes drastic. For example one day she is perfectly fine and the next she says things that are totally untrue or attacks me for something I did not do. It is hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that this is a disease and not react in the moment when she is accusing me of something bizarre like taking her car because most of the time she seems fine. My family doesn't get it and believes what she says. I feel lost, sad, and unloved by my mom, and I know it is not rational because she cannot help it. How do I deal with these changes rationally? Thanks, M.B.
