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[quote=Anonymous]My mom is in her 70s and has a family history of dementia.  I am starting to notice signs of mental decline.  For example we are struggling right now to plan a trip with her, and she keeps confusing the names of cities that start with the same letter.  She decides how far destinations are from each other based on what she wants the answer to be, rather than looking at a map or listening to me tell her.  She makes large, ill-advised purchases, and is paranoid that someone will take advantage of her. Sometimes she calls up my sister and says mean things.

But, I struggle to articulate how this is different from her "regular" issues, even though it feels very different.  For example, she has always engaged in magical thinking, and always had a bumpy relationship with my sister.  Her financial priorities have always been different from mine.  It's hard to point to a really clear line between her normal behavior and what I now think is diminished judgment.

She and my dad live on the opposite coast from me and my sister.  Dad seems to be sharp (and has a family history of remaining sharp into old age) but she is the dominant force in their relationship and makes all the decisions.  She is extremely defensive about her mental abilities and does not want to discuss any decline.

Is there anything I can do here?  Are there any clear thresholds that I can establish now, that would make me try to get a doctor or relative to step in?[/quote]

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