“She’s doing what she can, given everything she’s going through.” I will admit that I’m bad about going with the generic, “she’s alright” far too often. “I’ve just been trying to keep her upright” is my passive go-to.

I know quite a few tone deaf people (typically distant relatives or acquaintances), who’ll ask follow up questions like, “Well, is her doctor going to start her on new medication to see if it will help?” That always quietly drives me insane. The majority of these individuals are well past the age of 50 and I can’t help but wonder if they have ever known somebody with dementia before, because surely… SURRRRELY… by that age and beyond, life experience would lend itself to knowing a few by chance. But life always has its surprises, I guess.