When Dementia Care Hits Home In Big Sky Country

Back in July of 2025, I started sharing my mom's journey with Dementia.

Back in June she was diagnosed with Dementia and things got crazy. All of a sudden it seemed like every health care provider that deals with the elderly had my phone number and were literally calling me daily to see if I had gotten my mom "financed". Not, "Did you find care?" Not, "Is your mom ok?" Not, "Is your family handling this ok?" Just, "Did you get your mom financed yet? She can't stay in the hospital forever. We're not some kind of adult daycare. Maybe I'll just discharge her today." Someone really said that to me, by the way.

Ah, July 2025. You nearly cracked my sanity.

Then in August, almost like it never happened, they took my mom back to her independent living apartment. I'm not kidding. (I was told she could stay in assisted living, but I'd have to write a check for $11,700 THAT DAY and at the beginning of every month.)

Keep in mind, the woman has dementia. She is often telling me how she will be the first person in the world to beat the disease and that her brain is growing back nearly every day.

The same person that goes and gets a big salad for supper and by the time I got her to her apartment she forgot she had anything prepared to eat.

My mom has lost around 70 pounds or so in the last 5 months simply because she forgets to eat, and when she remembers, she's too afraid to cook anything. None of her doctors find any issue with this.

As Of September, No Help For Mom In "Getting Financed"

I was given numbers of organizations that can help us. I called them ALL. Over and over and over again. I even called the Great Falls Senior Center and Aging Services, explained my problem and not ONE place called me back.

Finally, the place my mom wants to move into sent me an e-mail. I told them the nightmare I was living and they gave me ACTUAL help with ACTUAL people who want to see my mom cared for. It was a breath of fresh air.

It will still take up to 4 more months to get her into assisted living.

Read More Article 1: Elder Dementia Care In Montana

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