Advice for getting help for cousin

Campana

My cousin, with no immediate family, has been showing signs of dementia for over a year. I live in another state and cannot travel due to husband's health issue. I've talked to her friends and asked for their help,but no one wants to be the one to tell my cousin, or take her to doctor. Is there a good way for me to tell her my concerns over the phone or in a letter? She needs help.

trottingalong

A vast majority of people with cognitive impairment don’t recognize they have a problem. Whether it is a phone call or letter there may be a strong denial in return. To add to that, depending on how advanced it is, they may suffer from short term memory loss and not even remember the conversation. Those that live alone and exhibit signs of dementia also become targets through scams or those who want to take advantage of them.

annie51

This is a tough situation. I found this on the Alzheimer’s website:

https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10-steps

SDianeL

I would contact Adult Protective Services in the county where she lives. They should be able to appoint a guardian. I would not discuss it with her. She won’t understand or remember. You can also contact the county Agency on Aging for assistance. The only other thing is maybe find out her doctor’s name and see if they can call and get her to go in for a wellness check.