My mother-in-law is in a nursing home. She is 87 & has multi-infarct dementia. We have seen her 'slowly fade away' ---this once very engaging person is much less engaging, withdrawing from people, often closing eyes when you are there to visit. Even with eyes closed, she answers questions & at times even say things like ' I DON'T know what I would do without you'. We want to know the best things we can do as a family when we visit her to engage with her & care for her in these final stages of life.

My mother may have these strokes, but she's 93 years old. She has less and less recall of daily living. For example, I take her to the same grocery store every week and now she can't remember how to get around. She gets that blank and lost stare that I see in so many elderly.

Isn't this just part of getting old?

I believe my mother has multi infarct dementia. She had a major stroke 10 years ago and has had smaller ones over the course of time. She is living with my brother & wife and recently seems weeker, not walker as easy and her speach seems weaker. My biggest concern is her inability to gain weight. She actually has lost more weight and is down to 82. She has been eating so I am confused by this. Any ideas if this is the beginning of the end or if there is anything we can do besides high calorie drinks.