Michelle, it must be so hard to accept when they no longer recognize you -
- after all, you were so *very* important to them for so many years...and,
you *still* are, even if they don't have the equipment to know that,
anymore.

Please know that you have many friends and strangers sending you and both
of your parents good, good thoughts for everyone's well-being; some of
those may even qualify as earnest prayers. (I don't like to overstep when
I don't know the OP's particular spiritual beliefs. Eh, I guess I'll
always be a liberal.

<OT bit follows>

I prefer -- though do not insist on -- the term "progressive,", and I'm
*still* wondering why "liberal" has been so often considered a very bad
trait in my country of late, (USA), even as old as I am. (One would think
that I've lived long enough to "get" that, being 54 y.o. and having lived
with minimal consciousness through Watergate and VietNam. I have not
gotten it, obviously, so I've decided to accept that I am genetically
disposed to wish for and believe in the potential for human cooperation
and peace.) What could be possibly be wrong with compassion for our fellow
man? Sigh. This part is OT, so please, group, don't answer without saying
so. <Heavy sigh. I wish we could just have a free forum to address our
mutual frustrations, even though I know that's somewhat selfish on my
part.

I send my very best wishes and hopes to everyone dealing with dementia,
caregivers and sufferers alike.

Deborah