My maternal Grandfather lived to well in his eighties, but in his later years, he starting losing his memory. It got so bad my Grandmother would have to lock the door, because he had walked down the street and didn't know who he was, Thankfully, someone recognized him and brought him home. When I would visit, he would tell me he saw a family in the room and we needed to help them. I tried to tell him there was no one there, but he saw them, in his mind. 

When my mother got up in years, I only got back to Aberdeen on Thanksgiving for a visit. Sometimes when i would visit, she would look at me and have a confused look on her face. She didn't know who I was. She would have times, when she seemed fine and then she would just lose the connection. That is one of the most helpless feelings I experienced. Having someone alive in the flesh, in front of you, that you love, and they don't know who you are. When I retired, I decided to spend some time and money supporting a couple of worthy causes. Ones that mean something to me and those I care about. This is one of those. I'll only come begging once a year. So, if you can, please donate to this worthy cause.  Thanks, Dan     act.alz.org/goto/dancallahan