At first, it was small changes. My mother was losing things and getting on the wrong bus. But then I began to notice more unsettling changes. She wasn’t taking care of herself, slept a lot during the day and was becoming even more confused.

I knew something was wrong. I took her to her doctor. We got the always shocking, but ultimately expected news. She had dementia.

I felt mixed emotions. But knowing the source of my mother’s difficulties was a relief. And with that diagnosis came my resolution to help my mother remain active for as long as possible. Because I knew that if she didn’t use the abilities she had left, she would lose them quickly.

As a first step, I got her on medication to help with her dementia. But I wanted more, so I began sending her to a local day program every day. And then I got help for myself, with a personal support worker provided by my local Community Care Access Centre and by sending my mother to respite care to give myself much-needed breaks.

And what a difference this has made for both of us. The doctors are amazed at how well she is doing.   My mom is happy. She has a great time at the day program where she eats well and gets mental and physical stimulation. She even regularly sleeps through the night, something that any caregiver knows is a blessing.

I have advice for anyone who thinks they or their family member might have dementia: see your doctor. The sooner you know, the sooner you can act. It made all the difference for my mother.

To learn more about early diagnosis, visit our website.

Sharon Roszel

Caregiver