Support Group for Those of Us Living With Mild Dementia

Hi all. I am 84yrs and am thinking I may be experiencing mild IM to a degree so I have been dealing with it by joking and telling/warning people not to expect me to remember more than 3 things...I am dyslexic so am not sure if this is part of it? I use this fact to hide behind when I make a faut pas etc. I also make lists, write on calendars....and print out important emails to file. It is much worse if I am force to do something quickly or unexpectedly in an angry or tense manner. Being slightly deaf does not help. I try to do things slowly and chk things twice...because of doing certain things sometimes in the wrong order can make me forget something(not always crucial tho')I hesitate to get an actual diagnosis of "Mild Cognitive Anything" as that could result in me not being taken seriously as an artist and writer....As for house work I let it go for the most part and My son takes up the slack...I need my time and energy for working in the studio(which is now in my living room. As for entertainment of family & friends I do that outside on the picnic table or we go to a fav restaurent. As my husband(deceased since 15 yrs--& a psychiatrist) use to say "You don't have to worry until you start putting your underwear in the fridge!!" Hope this helps someone....laughing is good. Sorry for going on and on. . PS Here is a pic from one of my shows & other works

@bigphyl absolutely!
I’m in a quandary right now. I’m not really wanting to do anything but I have a family gathering planned next month and I am anxious for the house to look nice.
However, I’m stuck mentally and physically too.
This is causing me a lot of stress!

Hi Susan,

I’ve started reaching out to friends for help. If you have a friend you trust, invite them over for tea (etc) and a helping hand for organizing house.

I don't know what an "IM" is but you sound like you are doing just fine. Love your art work. I'm 72 and live by my lists of things to do and remember. Aging is an adventure not for the weak...wish you all the best !

Hi all. I am 84yrs and am thinking I may be experiencing mild IM to a degree so I have been dealing with it by joking and telling/warning people not to expect me to remember more than 3 things...I am dyslexic so am not sure if this is part of it? I use this fact to hide behind when I make a faut pas etc. I also make lists, write on calendars....and print out important emails to file. It is much worse if I am force to do something quickly or unexpectedly in an angry or tense manner. Being slightly deaf does not help. I try to do things slowly and chk things twice...because of doing certain things sometimes in the wrong order can make me forget something(not always crucial tho')I hesitate to get an actual diagnosis of "Mild Cognitive Anything" as that could result in me not being taken seriously as an artist and writer....As for house work I let it go for the most part and My son takes up the slack...I need my time and energy for working in the studio(which is now in my living room. As for entertainment of family & friends I do that outside on the picnic table or we go to a fav restaurent. As my husband(deceased since 15 yrs--& a psychiatrist) use to say "You don't have to worry until you start putting your underwear in the fridge!!" Hope this helps someone....laughing is good. Sorry for going on and on. . PS Here is a pic from one of my shows & other works

Hi, I'll be 82 in a few weeks. My problem is ongoing cognitive difficulties associated with long Covid, for 9 months now. At its worst, I mix up dates and times for appointments, mis-read instructions, make the same purchases 2 and 3 times, or run out of pantry items because I've looked at, say, tuna and it registered as salmon. I've forgotten food in the oven and clothes in the washer for days. I'm not safe to drive a car. In my bad spells, it happens up to 20 times a day; on good days, its only 4-5 a day. It's worse when I'm fatigued and better when I take hourly "brain breaks". While I this isn't dementia, and I seem to be improving very slowly in general, it's going to go on for a long time and there's no guarantee it will ever be gone completely. I would greatly benefit from learning coping skills from others.

Hi, I'll be 82 in a few weeks. My problem is ongoing cognitive difficulties associated with long Covid, for 9 months now. At its worst, I mix up dates and times for appointments, mis-read instructions, make the same purchases 2 and 3 times, or run out of pantry items because I've looked at, say, tuna and it registered as salmon. I've forgotten food in the oven and clothes in the washer for days. I'm not safe to drive a car. In my bad spells, it happens up to 20 times a day; on good days, its only 4-5 a day. It's worse when I'm fatigued and better when I take hourly "brain breaks". While I this isn't dementia, and I seem to be improving very slowly in general, it's going to go on for a long time and there's no guarantee it will ever be gone completely. I would greatly benefit from learning coping skills from others.

I just read that there are some breakthroughs in understanding and treating long Covid. I had it and my doctor didn’t believe long Covid was real. It is real. Perhaps you can refer your doctor to a recent NYT article on long Covid.