Dear Prudence,
My husband and I have always had a pleasant relationship with his parents but I’m not close to them. They live a couple of hours away. We make efforts to see them about every two months. We also FaceTime so they can see the kids. For the past six months or so, it’s like his mom has lost her filter. She’s always been sort of old school about politeness. Suddenly she’s blurting out rude things unexpectedly and missing social cues. She also seems to be suddenly very anxious. It’s enough that I’m worried she needs a health screening since this isn’t normal for her. My husband refuses to see anything could be wrong and won’t talk to her or his dad about it. I’m worried and don’t know what to do—I don’t think we have the type of closeness where I could tell her I’m concerned about dementia but it doesn’t seem like anyone else will. My husband is an only child and his mom has always managed all the health and emotional stuff for her household. I don’t know how or if I can help.
—The Daughter-in-Law