Edith stopped off at her dad’s condo, and they chatted about her day. For several weeks, she had been updating him about a video she was making for a company board meeting. That morning was the big presentation and it went well. She was thrilled to share her good news with her supportive father.
Just a few minutes after their conversation, “Edith’s” dad asked her something that created a pit in the bottom of her stomach. He asked how her day was, specifically if anything interesting had happened at work. That forgetfulness was a sign that “Edith” had been dreading. It meant that her beloved father’s Parkinson’s disease was progressing to include dementia, a symptom that his doctors had warned her could materialize.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between 15 and 25 percent of adults 65 and older have a mental illness. So it’s important to understand the key issues of mental health and the way they affect our elders. Knowledge is definitely power when it comes to being the caregiver of an elderly loved one.