For the past 12 months I have been privately thinking about a female friend. She is quite remarkable, being into her early 70s and maintaining a hectic business life which includes being the public face of a seriously big corporation.

Here is the thing – when we last met, I developed a suspicion that something was just not right. There were signs to my mind of very early dementia. In the grip of uncertainty – and an ‘appropriate’ belief that it is not my role to say anything – I kept my thoughts to myself.

So here I was a year later, privately checking out my friend just after Christmas, and yes, to my unqualified assessment, those signs had expanded.

What does one do? On the surface it is easy to continue to think it is none of my business and keep my thoughts to myself. On the other hand, thinking of the individual, the earlier the diagnosis is made, the earlier that interventions can be established – with a supportive plan that can slow the debilitating process of the disease.

When it comes to having a conversation like that with a friend, only one thing is certain.  It's complicated...

Read more - http://frankandearnest.net.au/do-i-tell-a-friend-she-may-have-dementia/.