One of my husband's early signs was spatial awareness. He has always loved maps and geography, and had a perfect sense of direction. The day we left a store on Mass. Ave and he didn't KNOW instantly which way to Harvard Square, I knew there was a problem. He was still years away from diagnosis, but I knew that meant trouble ahead.
Patsy, The action that revealed to ME that my mom had dementia was when she couldn't write out a check at the grocery store. She had written checks all of her adult life. She stood in line staring blankly at the check. After I realized she couldn't do it, I told her what and where to write.
I was observing her in the store also and she seemed lost. (In her defense, she didn't go grocery shopping hardly at all. I ordered groceries on line for her and the store would deliver them.) But she seemed disoriented and unable to figure out where things were. I had to guide her through the store. Does your husband have trouble doing things now that he's done all his life? I didn't realize any of this living 500 miles away. When she confused a sinus pill with an anti-anxiety pill I realized she was no longer responsible to take care of herself. She is now living in a memory care facility with Stage 5-6 Alzheimer's dementia.
You said it might take months to get your husband evaluated by a neurologist. Could you schedule an appointment and privately pay for the consultation? At least you would know sooner.
Please get a support system in place (friends, neighbors, family, church, etc.) for future help. Also, educate yourself as much as you can, read about dementia. It's imperative to know what you both would be in for. God bless you in this difficult time.
The action that revealed to ME that my mom had dementia was when she couldn't write out a check at the grocery store. She had written checks all of her adult life. She stood in line staring blankly at the check. After I realized she couldn't do it, I told her what and where to write.
I was observing her in the store also and she seemed lost. (In her defense, she didn't go grocery shopping hardly at all. I ordered groceries on line for her and the store would deliver them.) But she seemed disoriented and unable to figure out where things were. I had to guide her through the store.
Does your husband have trouble doing things now that he's done all his life? I didn't realize any of this living 500 miles away.
When she confused a sinus pill with an anti-anxiety pill I realized she was no longer responsible to take care of herself. She is now living in a memory care facility with Stage 5-6 Alzheimer's dementia.
You said it might take months to get your husband evaluated by a neurologist. Could you schedule an appointment and privately pay for the consultation? At least you would know sooner.
Please get a support system in place (friends, neighbors, family, church, etc.) for future help. Also, educate yourself as much as you can, read about dementia. It's imperative to know what you both would be in for. God bless you in this difficult time.