I've posted about my dad's declining health (he's 88 and currently on a feeding tube). We expected him to leave us back in February, but I fully believe he's hanging on because of my mom.

My mom is 82, and has been diagnosed with dementia. She knows my dad all the time, but is forgetting her children a lot of the time. My brother, who is currently staying with them to help care for them, told me "It's like she's just a nice old lady from the neighborhood." At least she is pleasant in her current condition, because I know many are not.

When I talk to her on the phone, she seems pretty good most of the time, and seems to know who I am. But she does ask where I'm living now, and asks how many children I have. That could be covering up her recognition that she ought to know more about me, but doesn't remember.

An email from my sister today said that mom can no longer fix her own meals, so they were scheduling family members to be there to help out.

Man, it sucks. She's always been such an intelligent person, and good conversationalist. It's hard to see it happen.