I’ve heard that all dementia patients say this. My aunt apparently did. My mother certainly did. For about a year, she had a hand-written poster at the foot of her bed, so she could see it every time she woke. No matter whether it was a ten minute nap or twelve hours of sleep, she would wake with very little memory, always demanding to “go home.” Mum could demand like a champ. ;)

With what had happened to her eldest sister, she was terrified of “losing her mind.” And, due in part to severe complications from an unrelated hospital stay, she did. She and Dad hid it well for a long time. I only caught on during a phone conversation where she was suddenly obsessing over whether I had a plane ticket to come home. ??? I realized, some minutes in, that she thought I was still in England at University, and twenty years old! {about thirty-five years ago at that time} I reassured her that I was fine, I had my ticket and would see her at the holiday… and insisted she put Dad on the line.

The personality your Mother was, may not be very attached to her body anymore, but her Spirit is alive and well. Honor that. And try, heartbreaking though it can be, not to sweat the small stuff, like whether or not she remembers who you are. Her heart knows you. Always will.

Love to you{all}