{{{Teppy}}} I can't imagine how hard it is to watch that happen.

It's been happening gradually; he frequently doesn't understand why [anything] outside of his routine is occurring. And that includes a can of tuna, or apples.

The good thing is that with persistent reminders, he can still create a new routine -- he's robustly physically healthy, but as a 78-year-old man, he has started to need to take meds to avoid a urinary tract (and/or prostate, maybe?) problem from recurring. At first he didn't remember to take his meds, because he had never needed to take meds. And he didn't remember what they were for. And when the boys reminded him of a really bad urinary tract issue that was the triggering incident for the medication being prescribed, his initial response was that he was fine now, so he didn't need drugs.

But the boys persisted in calling to remind him to take the meds, and told him if he wanted to avoid ever having a catheter again, he needed to take the meds every day. Coupled with a day-of-the-week pill caddy, he's improved his record of pill-taking to every day, though he does miss a day occasionally.

So if he really wants to add tuna to his diet, we just need to remind him (1) that he wanted to start eating fish because his doctor recommended it, and (2) there's tuna on the counter and he should have it for lunch.

But really, he's going to need to move soon. I think we'll make it through the holidays, which will be important emotionally to him, but he can't continue to live alone.

Can I have some kidney~ma for ltc? One of her kidneys isn't draining properly and we have to go for a test on Monday to figure out if there is a physical cause. Her pediatrician said it is probably nothing to worry about, but I'm still worried.

Of course you are worried, sj. Comes with the new job. I would try and trust the pediatrician on this since she has more experience with such things. {{hugs}}

All the ~ma you need, sj.

Tons of love ~ma and support for all those coping with aging parents.

Echoing this, loudly. It's so hard. I've been through it with my mom, and probably will again with my much-older sister, and I'm trying to help my BFF get through it with her mom now. You can develop coping strategies, but in the end, it's just mortality, and it fucking bites, for everyone.

And another ton of health~ma for ltc! But she won't need it, will she, because it's nothing to worry about.

Poor ltc. But these new releases always have a few bugs in them, a few or code updates and she'll be fine.

All ~ma to ltc and family.

The last decade or so she has gently taught my step-dad to cook, do laundry, and other stuff. She still takes care of the bills, but I can see she is involving him more there too. She probably hasn't driven in 20 years, but still renews her license! Of course it isn't easy to watch her short term memory fall away and her increasing physical challenges, but it is a whole lot easier than a sudden deterioration.

This type of transition is what was happening with my parents as mom got more and more incapacitated and Dad was taking over more of the household duties, and then he got his cancer diagnosis and was gone a month later. He wasn't the one that was supposed to go first, alas, that's the way it goes sometimes.

I still miss him every day.

sj, lots of ~ma to ltc.

I'm sorry, Drew.