My mom (82) has dementia, is extremely depressed and has cataracts. Advice?

There are often underlying conditions at the root of depression. In my moms case she became very depressed at around age 80. We had her primary doc do blood work and check for low thyroid function. It WAS low so she was prescribed a thyroid Rx which really helped her mood. Also at same time I asked her doc to order analysis of her Vit D3 blood status and when we saw the result she started taking a daily D3 supplement. Her depression then totally lifted! She had cateracts in both eyes and they were removed over 10 years ago. She’s 91 now. She still reads a lot.

In your moms case, call her primary doctor and let him/her know the symptoms and that you think she needs an appointment and blood lab work. Then call ophthalmologist and get her in to an appointment. She’s probably suffering with a cascade of symptoms making her life feel impossible.

You may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb - when is her next 6-monthly appointment with her doctor? If it's not too far away, make an appointment with her ophthalmologist for the same day. Do opthalmology first, it's more tiring.

How do you get her to the doctor, by the way?

My mom has macular degeneration and was an artist and a librarian who read six books each week, so you can imagine how depressed she became as her vision deteriorated.

She also developed cataracts after the macular degeneration had robbed her of her ability to do much, but she had the surgery anyway. She came out of that surgery like a new person because she said she could see colors again! She hadn't realized that the cataracts had dulled everything to a grayish tone.

So, while she couldn't make out things any better than she could before the surgery, my mother's mood was lifted enormously because what she could see was brighter and more colorful.

Do try to help your mom get the surgery.

Depression comes with the desease. Make sure she goes to a neurologist for her depression. A PCP does not have the experience to treat a Dementia patient.

Her depression could come from not being able to see. The procedure is fairly simple. I've been told the drops are the worst of it. Maybe Mom could be "put out" for the procedure.

This is the time for you making decisions in her best interests, starting with scheduling both an eye appointment and an appointment to get help for her depression. Don’t ask, she’s too sad to respond appropriately, and likely has fears about being outside with such bad vision. Make up a lie if needed to get her out of the house. Sorry you’re going through such a tough time