Mom Moved Into A Retirement Home. Did She Know She Had Dementia?
HuffPost••health
Key Points:
- The author, a 59-year-old woman, experiences emotional distress at night, repeatedly thinking "I want my mom," despite her mother living nearby in assisted living and appearing physically well.
- Her mother, once independent and active, moved into a retirement community before the pandemic and later lived with the author during COVID-19 lockdowns, revealing early signs of memory loss and cognitive decline.
- The mother’s gradual mental deterioration includes confusion, forgetfulness, and risky behavior such as driving into oncoming traffic, leading to the difficult decision to take away her car keys to protect her independence and safety.
- The author reflects on the emotional challenges of watching her mother age and lose her mental faculties, learning to love and support her differently while
