Today I get an introduction to "Geriatric Medicine". I'll spend the afternoon at a long-term care facility, interviewing a person with cognitive decline, and then chatting over tea and cookies. I think it's supposed to make approaching elderly patients less intimidating.

So I'm realizing that I am a little apprehensive. My own experience with long-term care, and dementia, and depression in the elderly (grandmothers of my once-partner) made me feel sad. But what I'm thinking of this morning is that I'd like to extend patience. I remember that his family sometimes became frustrated dealing with the dementia of one grandmother - and I know that care-givers are under a great deal of strain. I just want to remember what that was like to see, and to try to keep that somewhere with me always - to apply to my patients, and to hang on to if I have to deal with dementia and cognitive decline within my own family.

Just try to remember what it was like before I was becoming a doctor.