Hi @marvkw You ask a very important question! I know it's one I grappled with during my wife's battle with brain cancer, which left her with many dementia-like symptoms.

Two things quickly came to my mind reading your post.

One was some advice we received early on in my wife's war. It was 'you'll be surprised by those in your life who leave you at this time and more astounded by who the few are who don't.' The vast majority of our families' members and friends of ours found it too difficult to deal with my wife (and me) so as they say, they ghosted on us. I guess it was the ultimate case of 'out of sight, out of mind'. We never found an answer for getting those who left us to reenter our lives -- and 99% of them are still absent, now 5 years after her passing.

The other was how often I had to explain, and explain again and again, my wife's lack of awareness, skills, etc. was not her doing, but the doings of her disease. One of the most difficult was when our adult children would visit and my wife's first words were 'when are you leaving?' It took a long time for them to understand this was not their mom speaking, but how broken her brain was by disease. It was never easier for them, but at least they came to understand.

I hope the sun is shining wherever you are today!

Strength, Courage, and Peace