A Caregiver's Journal provides information, insight, enlightenment and shared experiences for new caregivers and encouragement for long time caregivers. The focus of this blog is our transition from empty nesters to caregivers for my god-sister, Gladys, a stroke survivor. RSS Subscribe to RSS

Dementia: What’s my name?

After about ten days we made an unexpected discovery. Gladys knows who I am but she does not know my name. We made this discovery while Nikki and I were watching tv and Gladys needed help with something so she called Nikki. Nikki looked at me and said, “There are three people in the house, why does she keep calling me?” After I gave it some thought, it occured to me that Gladys did not know my name.

Of course, Nikki didn’t believe me. She said that up until they left Philadelphia, Gladys kept asking “When are we going to Valerie’s house?” I told her that Gladys might have said it then, but I was certain that she couldn’t remember my name. So I checked and sure enough, she didn’t know my name, Fred’s or Anita’s name. She knows who we are but not our names.

Is this a temporary memory issue caused by so many recent changes? Is this the normal progression of dementia? If any of you have experienced anything similar with someone in your family, I sure would appreciate your feedback.


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Posted on : Aug 07 2008
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Posted under Dementia, Life Changes |

One Person has left comments on this post

Aug 13, 2008 - 10:08:32
Veronica said:

I’m in a similiar situation with my husband. It is very difficult to have a simple conversation with him. This have been ongoing for more than(2) years. It is definitely a lesson in patience….. having to repeat details over and over again.

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