Lifestyle A Mother’s Forgetfulness 10/2/2023 | By Amy Dickinson Concerned about their mother’s forgetfulness, a thoughtful adult child wonders to best way to respond. See what advice columnist Amy Dickinson advises. Dear Amy: My mother and father are in their early 70s. I’m very close with both of them. There have been changes to their health over time, with wearing hearing aids, walking more slowly, etc., but I’ve noticed that my mother is getting a little more forgetful lately. The changes aren’t earth shattering, usually just repeating a recent question or forgetting an answer she’s just received. What’s the “right” way to deal with my mother’s forgetfulness when it happens? Do I say, “You just asked that” Or, “I just told you that?” Or is the proper thing to do, to just ignore the fact that it’s repetitive and simply just answer the question again? I don’t want to remind her that she’s getting older. – Faithful Child Dear Faithful: Your mother knows she’s getting older. She feels the passage of time in large and small ways – every day. And – I have news for you: Getting older is not a bad or shameful topic that must be avoided. Getting older, quite simply, is the privilege of continuing to live in the world. The way to respond to your mother’s forgetfulness is with the utmost patience, followed by a trip to the doctor. Losing one’s memory is a deep and essential fear, and this fear can prevent people from seeking an early diagnosis or treatment for cognitive changes that might be treatable. Your mother’s forgetfulness might be the result of a change of medication, a need for medication, or another treatable or benign cause. In the tradition of the great personal advice columnists, Chicago Tribune’s Amy Dickinson is a plainspoken straight shooter who relates to readers of all ages. She answers personal questions by addressing issues from both her head and her heart. A solid reporter, Dickinson researches her topics to provide readers with informed opinions and answers – ranging from forgetful parents to mentally ill moms and a widow’s relationship. Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. © 2023 by Amy Dickinson Click here to read more Ask Amy columns curated for a baby boomer audience. Read More Amy Dickinson