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Dealing with a Spouse with a “Mild Cognitive Impairment”

Posted by tryingtimes10 @tryingtimes10, Dec 31, 2024

My husband was diagnosed with MCI in 2019. He is pretty independent, just forgetful of time, dates, location of places, anything electronic & events from our life together (we’ve been married 52 years). It’s all just getting to me. I find myself wanting to be alone so I’m not continuously reminded of these changes. Because my friends/family are out of state, working, or involved with their own families, I really have no one to talk to so I’m seeing a therapist twice a week to deal with the sadness, anger, grief I have over his condition. I just wonder if other women find themselves in this position & how they are dealing with it.

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Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | 5 hours ago
In reply to @kordahl "@becsbuddy Good Morning - I just joined this group - I've been reading a digging into..." + (show)
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@becsbuddy
Good Morning -
I just joined this group - I've been reading a digging into MCI on my own and have finally scheduled a therapist appointment for myself to figure out how to proceed with loving life with my husband. My question is: how to you approach your spouse about seeing many signs of MCI and that it is a problem in the marriage ????
@kordahl

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@kordahl Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I’m glad you found this group! I’m going to let the members of this support group answer your questions because they are right in the thick of things right now and I’m not.
I think/hope the therapist will advise you, and the members also, to just take it one day at a time. This is a wonderful group and you won’t be disappointed!

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Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | 4 hours ago
In reply to @debkam "@beverlyhaynes55 Hi Beverly - I am new to this group but the stories sound so like..." + (show)
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@beverlyhaynes55 Hi Beverly - I am new to this group but the stories sound so like me and my husband! Your post especially resonated with me! I am almost 72 and still working full time as an accountant. All my younger siblings are retired, travel and vacation, etc. I am very jealous sometimes. But working is the one thing that keeps me sane. My husband does not have an "official" diagnosis but his forgetfulness, confusion, and mood swings certainly sound like a cognitive disorder beyond just normal aging. My husband has been medically retired for over 20 years, mostly due to mobility issues. He has had a hip and a knee replaced in the last 18 months, which has helped his mobility, but he has other health issues that are a hinderance to traveling. His mental decline is something I have only noticed in the past couple of years, but it is definitely getting worse. I have to admit to feeling like "Cinderella" sometimes, always waiting on him. It's not so bad when he is in a happy mood, but if something sets him off to being onery it is almost unbearable. I am relieved to know I am not alone in this situation.

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@debkam Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! You sound as though you could really use the help that this group can give you. I suggest that you read some of the previous postings that have been made and you’ll get a good idea of how the members of this group work. You will probably hear from some tomorrow.

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