"It [dementia] causes a gradual deterioration of not only the mind but the body as well," Mitchell said. "The body gets weaker and weaker. Just like in cancer or AIDS, for example, people may ultimately have a pneumonia at the end."

Caregiving: When to Step in Quiz

Knowing when to step in with elderly parents is a tough task.  You have to balance their independence against their faculties while treating them with dignity and respect.

As silly as they are, sometimes quizzes are great because they can help reduce hemming and hawing to a quick number.  They are not an end-all-be-all answer but can provide some additional questions or discussion points when coming to your own conclusion with your family.

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