I’m growing concerned about my mom …
She is in her early 70s and is a snowbird living 6 months near me and 6 months in the SW area of the US. My first concern came earlier this year when she reached out and asked why I hadn’t paid the mortgage on my house. I rent from her and have never paid the mortgage directly.
When she got back I reached out but I was very alarmed because her texts seemed different but upon talking to her over the phone she seemed like her regular self, but tired.
I’m helping her with her internet and TV and she said she signed up for phone, tv, internet. So I went in with her recently to find that was not the case. We did add cable because it is much easier for her to access her streaming services and local channels all in one box. I’m wondering if she signed up for the services back in the other state? But then she didn’t pay that bill the last few months so the service was canceled, and we just sorted that.
She is confused when we talk about internet and TV. I point to the router and she tells me that’s the TV box, I tell her she doesn’t have one and she looks at me quizzically. This was before I set her up with one recently.
She knows where she is, she is able to drive and navigate to where she’s going and not get confused about why she’s there. But sometimes she’s confused about what’s she is saying. I mean, she doesn’t feel confused but if I’m with her I can tell she’s saying something that does not make sense.
She schedules her appts and takes care of herself and exercises regularly. I’ve read up symptoms on Alzheimer’s but I can’t tell if this is old age progression or something more. But even her neighbor stopped me recently to express she is worried about her.
She has a doctor’s appt but she’s had tests in the past for Alzheimer’s and it has been fine. She has an appt this week so I’m hoping they test her and possibly encourage her to see about a neurologist.
I appreciate any recommendations or insight folks have. I’m thinking working on a diagnosis is the first step. But I’m not sure how much I should express to her my worry and why. Any help in how to handle that discussion? And I’m thinking maybe I should go with her to an appt or two.