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[quote=Anonymous]We are looking at a potential vascular dementia diagnosis for my nearly 80-year old father. I would appreciate any insight into how you managed this news with your parent, anything that helped maintain a safe living environment before going to memory care, and what you wish you would have done in hindsight.

My father had a bout with Covid last summer, and I've felt he's been different since then. He initially mentioned the extreme fatigue and brain fog, but his GP suggested that exercise would help him build back his strength. Over the holidays I noticed he seemed unstable, with lots of shuffling, and he tended to repeat his opinions (20+ minutes) without really engaging in conversations. Increasingly, he seems illogical and moody, mentioning difficulty sleeping and getting frustrated with so many things. Chats about what his friends are doing, outings, etc have receded into repeated diatribes. My sibling, who lives near him, confirmed that my father has had some concerning forgetfulness and can't multitask without forgetting what he is doing. He is still able to do daily tasks, and he does get out to socialize.

He recently received a high coronary calcium score, and I was helping him research ways to improve his diet. The symptoms of cognitive impairment stemming from reduced blood flow to the brain explained so much of what I've been seeing. My brother is going to ask to accompany him to the doctor. Given the length of time we have seen confusion seep in and the recent pronounced moody outbursts, I would be surprised if we weren't confronting some form of dementia onset.

What did you find helpful in processing the news within your family? Was there anything unhelpful? I have found some resources, but I would love to hear from someone who has been there.(I'm so sorry to anyone who has.) Although I've had concerns for a year, the shared concerns from my brother has hit me. This is just bloody hard.

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