I'll try to summarize this the best I can. My mother has always been very active and usually likes to be in charge. Her life is geared around her children, church and one of her favorite activities is her large yard. She's always liked to travel a lot, but prefers short trips as she likes being home. WE lost my dad to cancer 16 years ago and she has been alone since. She has been in great health... as far as we know. In the last couple of years she has had tremendous anxiety handling events at church. She has played organ there since she was probably high school age and she is now 77. I feel she doesn't like some of the changes happening, not because they are wrong, but because she is not in control and maybe she feels she will no longer be needed. She has been lashing out verbally at different people in church, especially my sister-in-law who she's always liked. I'm told this behavior carries over some into her other social activities as well. She worked as a very compassionate nurse for years. This is not like my mother at all. I live about 3 hours away so I'm not there to witness this but I believe what people are telling me. She tells me on the phone how she doesn't like things going on and teases sometimes about setting them straight. Whenever we are with her she seems perfectly fine! Could she have early alzheimers? Wouldn't her rash behavior show up with us sometimes? We've already talked about visiting with her personal m.d. so he would have a heads up. We just don't know how to approach this whole thing. Thanks for any advice.

She could just be over reacting because she knows she is getting older and could be worrying about becoming a burden on others. Also older people really don't like changes especially things to do with their religious beliefs. My guess is your mom is fine other than beating herself up about growing old and becoming a burden.

Just get it over and done with and visit with her doctor, discuss her care, or anxiety, your meds, past and present. No need to worry about alzheimers for now. She could have had a slight stroke, and that would explain her behavior. Small strokes don't always carry disabilities but it is warning sign. She would not know that she is having one unless there was someone around who would recognize the signs and symptoms.

Does she live by herself ?

Take care of her. For now you are her first line of defence, and of course her doctor needs to be aware of any changes occurring in her lifestyle.

He will probably order (I hope) some test and she should be with you to make it easier to adjust to these.

Just remember, 77 is not elderly in this day and age;)