Hi is this another JOY of dementia? my friend called me the other night to tell me he saw my mum walking down the road holding onto the wall he said it was scary how slow she was he didnt realise I was a few hundred yards behind her but still at 75yrs this is not normal is this another sign of dementia?
Extremely poor depth perception is only one of many reasons a person with dementia may slow down, and it is more prevalent in certain types of dementias than in others. But it is probably worth being aware of.
If the slowness is related to dementia, then age has nothing to do with it. It could hit at 55 or 75 or not hit until 90. Dementia changes the normal aging progression.
JessieBelle's approach -- to allow extra time, and to accept the slowness -- seems the most kind and also most practical, to me.
I recall one morning when we were running late I was trying to reassure my husband. 'It's OK honey. If we don't dawdle we will make it on time." He gave a pitiful groan. "But all I know how to do is dawdle!" Poor guy. He recognized how slow he was. I didn't usually do for him things he could do for himself, but in those tense situations I'd say, "Just because we have a deadline today, how about if I help you put your shirt on?"
I've seen shows on TV that poke fun of old people moving slowly. I don't like shows that poke fun. It does let us know, though, that it isn't unusual for old people to slow down... a lot.
Our doctors recently suggested that E be tested for something called, "normal pressure hydrocephalus." Google it. It's kinda complicated, but if her other symptoms match those that predict this condition, it might be worth having the doctors test for it.
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