At a loss for direction

Snuggles

I am recenfly learning a family member (grandmother in law) has alz or dementia she had what I best I could call and episode. She is house bound, normally has trouble walking without pain. She doesn''t drive. In This episode she somehow walked to her car, drove to the local Walmart walked into the Walmart, shopped and disappeared for 7 hours. Her daughter found her at the Walmart confused as to what happened. She Is in the hospital now with fluid on the lungs, in A-fib and has no memory of the day before. My question is this. When they have an episode like this can someone forget they are disabled?

harshedbuzz

Absolutely. 

Since short term memory/recall of newer information is lost first, PWD often forget medical conditions. This is especially common after something like a broken hip that requires assistance or a walker and can be exhausting for caregivers.