I have thought for a while that my dad might be showing signs of dementia. Yesterday confirmed this. He has had several falls in the last fortnight and all tests came back clear – no sign of any infection. I just happened to be with him yesterday when the doctor came to call. He checked his blood pressure and listened to his chest. He asked him how he felt and he said ‘Fine!’ He had fallen yesterday morning and complained of a painful bottom so was taken to the local A&E to be checked over.
The doctor asked me if I thought he might be confused. I confirmed my suspicions with plenty of examples…..asking the same question repeatedly, not remembering having a blood sample taken, not knowing why he was on his feet when he fell….it was quite a long list.
The doctor asked if dad would mind answering some questions. He agreed.
‘What is your date of birth?’
He got that one right.
‘Do you know what year it is?’
‘1997’
‘Do you know what month it is?’
‘April’
‘Could you count backwards from 20 to 1 for me?’
‘20,19, 16…..18…..’
And so it went on. He certainly demonstrated that there was something to be concerned about.
So now we start down the route of tests and checks to ascertain exactly what is happening to him.
We won’t be the first and we certainly won’t be the last.
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