My Neighbor

I am sitting here talking with my neighbor from across the street. Her son-in-law who lives two doors down asked me to give her a ride to a church activity tonight. Her name is Sadie and she has dementia.She came over a half hour early.  He told her when to come over but she becomes confused easily and can't remember anythng for more than a few minutes. What should I do send her home?  If I do I will have to over to get her later and she will have forgotten why I had come. Just now I have repeate myself 5 times. She keeps forgetting why she is here.

 My mother had dementia but it was a different type. Her memory of events was not really effected but she forgot how to do things and became unable to make decisions or plans. She became unable to care for herself.  In some ways it was like my mother had become a child again and I became one of her caregivers.

 Bill is Sadie's husband. He takes care of her and he gets frustrated with her. They have been our neighbors for 13 years. I am very close to thier granddaughter, Sarah. She has spent many hours at my house over the years.  When she was home, last summer, she was so frustrated with her grandmother that she started to withdraw and avoid her as much as possible.  It was sad to watch. I have never had trouble being patient with the elderly no matter what the trouble may be.  It isn't their fault. I wonder why it is hard for some people and easy for others.