WOW, I am so very sorry. Dementia at 28 is something. I am not positive but I believe that in my training I learned that drug and alcohol dementia follows a different path than other forms. Just like Pick's disease is different from Parkinson's dementa.

The reason I say this is because I know little about the anticipated progression, speed, severity and outcome. If I were you I would get online and look for support groups for people in your area as well as info about how her dementia may progress as opposed to an older person. Maybe she would let you speak with the clinic that evaluated her?

As for basic living kinds of things, you may need to write things down. For example, on thurs the 23rd at ten o'clock I am picking you up to go to that special play at the elementary school. You will need to let her have time to find her words as that can be very frustrating, and you may want to be conscious of not asking a lot of questions where she might struggle for the answers and feel badly.

Is there a chance it won't progress if she stops all drugs and booze now?

Can she make decisions now about living will and durable power of attorney for health care? Hard stuff, I wonder how you are handling the news?