Good morning, @mfilson I am sorry to read of your challenges with your dad's dementia. My name is Scott and I was my wife's caregiver during her journey, my mother-in-law also, and worked for the national Alzheimer's Association. It is not an easy road you are on, especially with your upcoming transplant.

I know everyone's journey with this disease is different, but I wanted to share a few things that came to my mind from reading your post. My first thought was that I worry your dad is a hazard on the road and should no longer be driving. Both my wife and MIL thought they were still good drivers when they really were not. Confusion on the road can be a terrible situation for a driver. I had my wife take an electronic driver's test with her doctor and he was able to tell her the results and that she should no longer drive.

Regarding the POA, MPOA, directives, planning, etc., I'd sincerely recommend you do it while your dad can still be of some help and understand it. Plus mentally things can change really fast at times. Once they are not competent to sign legal documents, things get far more difficult to complete, undertake, etc. Also, if you haven't I'd recommend he add you to his HIPPA approvals so the doctors can all talk freely and completely with you -- and you can do the same with them.

Both my wife and MIL had all sorts of delusions about their lives. My MIL became certain she was married to the UPS delivery fellow. My wife had a wide variety of unreal things as vision, olfactory, and auditory illusions she was certain were real. I often invoked that old phrase from Ron Reagan "trust, but verify" when listening to my wife and MIL.

It is beyond sad that there is no cure for dementia yet, but I do know there are medical professionals the world over trying to figure this one out and I've read there are newer medications that can help lengthen plateaus with some patients. One of my biggest frustrations was when my wife's neurologist said to me "we really don't know all that much about all the things the brain can do and how it works, and when it's broken we know far less." Even something as innocuous as her being left-handed complicated their understanding of her symptoms, etc.

If I may ask, how long has your dad been exhibiting his symptoms, and does he still live at home?

Strength, Courage, & Peace

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