Why Late Afternoon Can Become the Hardest Part of Dementia Care At 10:00 in the morning, Mom seems like herself. She eats breakfast. Talks about the grandchildren. She folds a basket of towels. She laughs…

“Do you need anything, Mom?” “No, honey. I’m fine.” So her daughter believed her. She didn’t know Mom had stopped going to Bible study because she hated asking for a ride. Or when Mom left…

Every Sunday, her daughter asked the same question. “What are you doing this week, Mom?” And lately, the answer was always the same. “Oh, nothing much.” Mom wasn’t in crisis. Her refrigerator was full. The…

Mom fell on a Tuesday. By Wednesday, everyone was treating her differently. Her daughter carried her laundry. Her son told her not to use the stairs. Someone moved the coffee maker so she wouldn’t have…

Her sister offered to stay with Mom Saturday afternoon. “Go do something,” she said. It was exactly what she’d been asking for. Three whole hours. Nobody needed her. She grabbed her purse, got into the…

Mom sounded fine on the phone. That was almost the problem. She said she’d eaten dinner. That her doctor’s appointment went well. She said the neighbor had stopped by. Then they hung up. And her…

Mom sounded fine on the phone. That was almost the problem. She said she’d eaten dinner. That her doctor’s appointment went well. She said the neighbor had stopped by. Then they hung up. And her…

Mom sounded fine on the phone. That was almost the problem. She said she’d eaten dinner. That her doctor’s appointment went well. She said the neighbor had stopped by. Then they hung up. And her…

Mom sounded fine on the phone. That was almost the problem. She said she’d eaten dinner. That her doctor’s appointment went well. She said the neighbor had stopped by. Then they hung up. And her…