It started with observable issues. She would forget to take her medications, completely unaware of the oversight. Church and neighborhood friends would stop by, alarmed to find that she had turned on a gas stove to heat the house and had no food on hand to eat.
The problem got worse as time went on. She would forget to eat, triggering diabetic episodes. She continued to forget to take needed medications, leading to hospital stays. Police even had to break down her door because she hadn't been reachable for days. They found her dehydrated and unaware of the concerns family and friends expressed.
Finally, the family relocated her to an assisted living facility. For months, she did well. But then she started saying strange things. When Carroll visited her, she found some pills near the baseboard of her floor. It became apparent that her grandmother was no longer able to live on her own, even with the help of the assisted living facility.
Finally, Carroll’s grandmother asked to go to a nursing home in her hometown. After two weeks, she died. Carroll was brokenhearted.
The sad thing is that Carroll’s grandmother’s story is common. Along with numerous health problems, her grandmother experienced an undiagnosed form of dementia. This led to the bizarre and forgetful behaviors that wreaked havoc on both her life and the lives of those around her.
What Is Dementia?
To understand dementia, it’s important to know that dementia isn’t an illness in itself. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this umbrella term encompasses a number of different brain illnesses -- like Alzheimer’s -- that have an effect on memory, making it difficult to function without help. These illnesses can influence the way a person think or acts.