How fast can dementia progress?

Also read this book:

"Couldn't we talk about something more pleasant?" by Roz Chast.

I walked around with this book clutched to my chest for about five months when my mom was in the worst of it. The book is helpful and very funny. It describes this situation to a T.

If possible, take her to a Neurologist. Also, she may be dehydrated or have a urinary tract infection.

All great answers.

It may also be, as in many cases, that your mom was already quite badly off but it was masked by having your father run interference and take over on all fronts. she also had the "help."

This is so common that sometimes family members who visit routinely do not realize how bad things have gotten.

Be grateful that she was home and "functional" for so long.

Good luck!

Frontotemporal dementia lasts about 8 years and is incurable. The end stage is pretty awful. Look it up on PubMed. Maybe get your mom an MRI for a definitive diagnosis? It won't change the outcome, but it can help you understand and treatment your mother accordingly. Just a thought.

I'm wondering whether you mom is having a series of mini strokes which is causing rapid decline.

Mom was receiving a ton of help from Dad and they also had someone coming in twice a week for a couple of hours.

Alan, was Mom living at home with a lot of help or was she independent? How old is she? The Alzheimers website has a great deal of info about all types of dementia.