I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. From what I've read and experienced some people get nicer/more docile with cognitive decline/dementia and others get worse.

My mother started off with mild cognitive impairment some years ago. Now she has full-blown dementia. She's always been a difficult person to deal with. We never had a good relationship and she never took any responsibility, seeing everything as my fault. Unfortunately, with the dementia, she has lost any filter. She's become a nasty and hostile person with no ability to regulate this. I think, like your dad she knows she is losing mental capacity and it frustrates her.


I feel fortunate I live far and my contact with her has been through video calls. The last few times I participated in them, it stressed me out so much, it brought me back to the issues we've had in the past. Interacting with me seemed to be agitating to her. So, for the time being I've pulled back from the calls.


From your last post, it sounds like you're handling him pretty well. I'm not sure if you're in a position where you are helping them with things due to their age or if you're more just spending time with them socially. I think if you need to take a mental health break from dealing with him, you're entitled to it.