One of the more unusual intros to a story:

First you get phone calls that seem kind of strange. Mom is quitting her bridge club because “they think I’m stealing from them.”

A week later, she mentions an old boyfriend from the war who’s coming to take her to dinner. You think, OK, it could be true.

Then the police call from her house. “Your mom thinks there’s someone hiding under her bed.”

Now you know. The forgetfulness, the fantasies, are dementia, Alzheimer’s, something like that. Your sister suspects the worst.

This isn’t just the story of one petite brunette with terrific legs who was called “Shorty” by her husband, granddaughters and daughters, including me.

This is the story of millions of Americans caring for elderly parents and maneuvering in the murky worlds of medicine, law, hospitals, nursing homes, guilt, fear and family ties.

Spotted in USA Today.