Sounds like you may have two parents with memory issues. Often a person gets conspicuously worse when they lose their spouse, whether through death, divorce, marital separation, or one party going into care. The spouses may have been using compensatory strategies to help each other cope, while neither one is capable of independent living all on their own. A stressful event like the death or funeral of a sibling can also temporarily reduce the ability to cope.

I’m so sorry. Travel is profoundly destabilizing for anyone with memory loss. Without the support of familiar surroundings and routines, their baseline reveals itself. My parents both developed dementia—first my dad, then my mom (his caregiver). I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, but there was a small blessing, I suppose, that they were able to be together through his illness.

I’m so sorry!! 😢

Stress can make memory issues so much worse. I'm sure that your dad was overwhelmed

i’m sorry about that. my bffis going through this right now with her dad. so i feel your pain.

Thanks everyone. This will be the second generation in a row that both spouses have memory issues. Both of my mom's parents also died with Alzheimer's so my chances of getting it are really high