Hi, my grandfather is 97 yrs old and pretty healthy except for knee joint aches....we never took him to a doctor as he never falls sick and is very healthy otherwise no diseases or health issues....Although since last 8 or 9 years he s started to act strange we understand it s the age....my query is what can I do to help him with his forgetfulness and he doesn t keep himself clean....he can walk and talk and has no problems as such....He also calls women walking by and makes unwelcoming gestures....We are a family of five and we take good care of him....cleaning, feeding and talking with him but he still remains the same....Also should we be getting him checked by a doctor?
Hello, Thank you for the query Dealing and caring an older member in the family can be stressful and difficult. It is pretty normal to be forgetful at this age. As people get older, changes occur in all parts of the body, including the brain. As a result, some aged people don't remember information as well as what they did. They lose things and forget the usual norms. These are signs of mild forgetfulness, not serious memory problems. Serious memory problems which affect a persons personality and behavior like Dementia is when one cannot carry out his everyday activities. From your query I understand that he is able to do his daily activities. This is called Mild Cognitive Impairment. Trying to talk to your grandfather about his misbehavior could help him in understanding the trouble. A care takers assistance for him can make things simpler and easier especially for his forgetfulness. If it gets worsened, it is advised to take him to a euro psychologist. A euro psychologist is a licensed psychologist with specialized training in assessment and treatment of cognitive problems associated with dementia or other neurological conditions. Patience and sense of care is from the other family members, considering his old age will help him a lot. Stay Healthy!