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[quote=Anonymous]

OP here.

Thank you so much for your insight.

My parents were able to come after all!

My father was able to buy the tickets, book the hotel, etc, but then had massive cold feet 2 days before their flight, and declared he couldn't come. I had a long Facetime with him and laid it all out - that I believed he had debilitating anxiety, that perhaps it was the first signs of dementia (both his parents had some forms of dementia), and that the best remedy to ensure his continued good health was that he push himself to travel and socialize, as much as he could. I could see the wheels turning, and he made a big effort to pack and organize himself, with my mother's help.

Once in my house, I saw no signs of obvious cognitive impairment, but a LOT of rigidity surrounding his daily routine, a disinterest in seeing new things and talking to people. It seems he has lost all curiosity about the world, is very anxious and has OCD symptoms surrounding his health (some sort of hypochondria/germophobia, with skin-picking).

So... I think Covid isolation might have made his symptoms worse, and that there is a window right now when they could get better, with anxiety meds and more stimulation thanks to little trips and dinners with relatives nearby (not me, I'm a continent away).

But ultimately, I feel he does need to be screened for dementia - can this be done as a baseline, so that if he deteriorates later, subsequent tests can be compared to this one?

Thank you again!

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