For several months I've noticed our 80-year old neighbor showing signs of dementia, similar to what my father-in-law is going through. There were the stacks of papers everywhere. There was the confusion of what to do with the various papers, in V's case, her inability to handle her greeting card list like she usually does. Her habit was to purchase cards for her entire (large) list in January, sign, address, stamp them, then feed them out throughout the year. This year she couldn't get it done so many of the paper stacks were greeting cards in various stages.
Both Alan and I got two birthday cards this year from V, all four either before or after our birthdays. V started losing her house keys. She started accidentally locking herself out of her house. She continued to get lost driving to familiar places.
It all came to a head this week when she headed for a Hallmark card shop a mile or so down CR42. Six hours later, she asked for help in Waseca and happened to ask an off duty police officer. She had my name and address in her wallet. Neighbor B and I drove to Waseca and retrieved her and her car, then took away her keys and called her local brother. She had gone through two tanks of gas and was totally confused.
I'm sure she'll be moving soon to some place more appropriate for her. V has been a wonderful neighbor but I'll be happy to see her go. At this point she is a danger to herself. At least B and I got her off the road.
