[GWN7]

My dad passed away on Jan 6th at the age of 88. I first noticed his dementia beginning in his early 70's. He had a knee replaced and it was like he never recovered from the anesthesia. He would come and go but you could carry a conversation with him in the beginning. Then he would get quiet when he didn't understand what you were talking about or didn't like what was being said. He drove until he was 74. A police officer showed up at the door one day and said dad was at a grocery store and hit a shopping cart and drove it into a woman's door. The woman said it looked like he had no idea he had hit the shopping cart and drove off. Mom took his car keys away after that.

My mom looked after him, but he continued to devolve. At lunch one day he hid his medications under his place mat. Mom gave him **** for hiding the meds. He said "Why do I have to take them?" (the why stage in two year olds) She explained the Dr. said he had to take them. He then asked who she was to make him take the Meds? Mom told him she was his wife and he had to take his meds. He looked at her and said "I've never been married!" They had been married 52 years at this point. He had no idea.

Mom looked after him till her cancer came back and she passed quickly. Dad had to have 24 hr care at that point as he wandered off and we were worried he might come to harm. In retrospect it might have been better if something had happened to him because there was another 12 years of degradation to the point were he was unresponsive, didn't initiate and was totally unaware of his surroundings. Eventually the disease progressed to effect his brain stem then he ceased to function.

My dad had it for about 15-16 years. His brother had it but didn't last as long and I found out a couple years ago their father (my grandfather who I never met) had it and died in his 40's from it.

Every time I forget where something is it scares the **** out of me and I wonder when it will be my turn.