With today's health privacy act (HIPAA - very good for many things, but it makes it tough when we are trying to help an impaired adult), a letter to the doctor may be helpful. He or she may not take a phone call.

We can hope your mom has already signed HIPAA papers that allow you access to her medical care, but if not, try a letter.

You may not be able to get her to a doctor by telling her the appointment is because of her memory problems (people tend to get defensive about this), but if you can mention some other problem, say her blood sugar readings haven't been stable, or her blood pressure has been an issue, and then write the doctor ahead of time, telling him or her about the memory issues, maybe the doctor can look at the medications and see if they could be causing the problem.

Unfortunately, diabetics are at a higher risk for Alzheimer's than the general population, so the doctor should check for signs of this disease, but we can hope it's something more simple, and a change in medication is a "cure."

Good luck with this. Your mom is likely afraid of the results, too, so please try to be understanding about her stubborness.

Carol

If you are having concerns, it is important to discuss them with your mom’s physician. Some memory loss and forgetfulness is considered normal as we age, but there are symptoms that are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease, and these symptoms are not considered normal.  These symptoms can include include short-term memory loss, difficulty in carrying out activities of daily living (such as bathing and dressing), problems with expression and comprehension, personality changes and/or mood swings, and confusion to person, place or time.  However, it is important to note that these symptoms can also be signs of another type of dementia, or other medical or psychiatric issues, some of which may be treatable. Although diabetes is a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, the fact that your mother has diabetes may or may not have something to do with the signs of memory loss that you are noticing. The only way to confirm Alzheimer's disease is through a thorough evaluation by her physician. This exam can include a blood and/or urine test, brain scans, a mental status examination, and a comprehensive medical history. If a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is issued, the doctor may prescribe certain medications to alleviate and better manage symptoms which may slow down the progression of your mother's illness.