Days With Mom and Dad

We started noticing symptoms maybe 6-9 months before we took Dad to the doctor. He would tell the same stories over and over within minutes. He would get turned around while driving. He would struggle to find words in the course of conversation. We noticed he was writing the simplest things down in his planner, presumably to remind himself what happened on any given day. Mom started taking over the finances. He would get more frustrated with little things, and Mom would become irritated with him. The decision to take him to the doctor wasn't an easy one. He hadn't been seen by a physician in over 30 years. He was the picture of health...strong, hearty, hardworking. So to convince him that he needed to be evaluated made no sense to him at all. My husband, a pharmacist, helped us to get Dad to the appointments and sat with him. I know it was upsetting to Mom, who likely was experiencing her own symptoms of dementia that we had not yet identified. It was definitely upsetting to Dad who simply didn't understand. After several appointments and tests, I felt a sense of apprehensive peace (if that makes sense...). We had some answers. He hadn't had a stroke. His heart was healthy. He had dementia. My apprehension came from the anticipation of what was to come in the future. My peace came from knowing that Dad was still my dad. I loved him no matter what. And I would take care of him with the help of my family.