No one knows why people with it remember the things they do or forget the things they do. Where I work, sometimes the residents remember me, but not a family member. That's just the way it is with dementia. Sorry!!!

My MIL has severe dementia and it is getting worse. She's 94 years old and in great health. When she looks outside across the drive, she sees the barn there. She doesn't' know it's a barn. She thinks it's a house. Whenever a white car is there she either thinks it's her husband's car or her dad's truck. And she expects them to come home any time now. It's sad because her husband has been dead for 3 years and I can't tell you how many years her dad's been dead, but he probably died in the 40s. And she recognizes us as people she knows but sometimes when we offer her something to eat she says she doesn't have money to pay for it, like we were a cafe or else she wants to go home now and see her family. Sometimes she doesnt' think she was ever married or had 4 kids. We show her photos from the past and she doesn't recognize herself. It hurts to hear and see these things. It hurts to realize the 'mom' we loved isn't there anymore and that she doesn't know how much we love her. But we do the best we can and we always talk to her about the past and say our names over and over and try to find a spark. She's happy, healthy, and seems to enjoy life, so it's enough for now:-)