They must think we're really stupid
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (342060)
Rockingham, Australia
December 11, 2024 11:02pm CST
Vince went for a health care assessment the other day. These are recommended for seniors and involve the use of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
This test is used to gauge an individual’s cognitive level. Questions judge attention span, calculation, recall, orientation, etc. The test doesn’t take long, Those in care who are at risk of dementia or are exhibiting signs of cognitive impairment would be tested regularly to detect any change.
Knowledge about the assessment is becoming common knowledge among our age group. One of the questions is to start at 100 then count backwards, subtracting 7 each time. We all joke about practising subtracting in this way. When Vince mentioned this to his doctor, the doctor said that sometimes they change the number. Sure enough, Vince had to count backwards subtracting 5 each time. This is so simple as to be almost insulting!
The photo is of a third swan at a nearby medical complex. This one is on a skateboard and sits outside the children’s hospital.
21 people like this
23 responses
@kareng (61695)
• United States
13 Dec
@BarBaraPrz Opps, yep!! So used to seeing pelicans in Louisiana!
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137636)
• United States
12 Dec
A person from the Council of Aging called and made a remark about me being able to hold my own in a phone conversation... That was insulting!
I do like the swans. 
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137636)
• United States
13 Dec
@JudyEv As cute as the other swans are, I'm sure the last two will be just as good. 
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (108144)
• Marion, Ohio
12 Dec
That one would be easy. 7 would be a little harder.
I like that one
3 people like this
@xFiacre (13144)
• Ireland
12 Dec
@judyev Those 'elderly' questions just open up wonderful opportunities for sarcasm and messing with the doctor. Some years ago I accompanied an elderly lady who we all knew had dementia to see a geriatrician. She would only go if I as her minister went too. Quite a palaver. Seven of us piled into the small room. The doctor who was about 15 had obviously never seen an elderly person before and was all at sea. I think he was intimidated but Molly would only stay if we were all there. He started by asking if Molly knew where she was. 'Of course I know where I am, I'm not stupid' she said, looking quite offended. He asked her again and she said "I'm in Istanbul" as if it was the obvious place she would be. Then she elaborated, "The minister (me) told me that God wanted me to go to Istanbul so here I am". The doctor didn't know what to do with that and left the room and we all went home when he didn't return.
3 people like this
@xFiacre (13144)
• Ireland
12 Dec
@BarBaraPrz No. we just got cross with the doctor so he had his purpose after all!
3 people like this
@kaylachan (71762)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Dec
I think it's a doctor's job to treat you like you're an idiot, especially if they know they're going to get paid reguardless. Myy doctors are happy to order tests, even if the results would be abnormal, then tell me and talk down to me like I'm an idiot. It's really insulting how the medical profession treats people. I get some people are stupid, or experiencing declining mental health, but geeze. Talk to me like I'm an intelegent adult.
3 people like this
@FourWalls (69003)
• United States
12 Dec
That’s such a cute sculpture! I appreciate you sharing them with us!!
I know it sounds simplistic, but that’s a telltale sign of dementia: not being able to do 100, 93, 86, 79, etc. I think a lot of Americans would have a hard time because our mathematical skills as a nation are atrocious.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (69003)
• United States
13 Dec
@JudyEv — I have an easy time when they tell me to remember the words or the address. It’s when they DON’T tell me to remember something that I fall apart. 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342060)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Dec
A lot of the questions are aimed at detecting early signs of dementia. They give you three words at the start and tell you to remember them then ask you for them later into the test. In Vin's case, they asked him for them again in just a couple of minutes. He barely had time to remember them, let alone forget them! lol
2 people like this
@aninditasen (16503)
• Raurkela, India
12 Dec
The swan looks beautiful. People at the hospital are handling the old people as kids.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342060)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Dec
@aninditasen That's a good idea.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16503)
• Raurkela, India
13 Dec
@JudyEv There are some exercises that I do to retain a proper memory.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181642)
• United States
12 Dec
That's a cute swan. I hope Vince did well with his MMSE. My husband is going to have one too. Have a good day.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (181642)
• United States
13 Dec
@JudyEv Yes, some days he's perfectly fine.
1 person likes this
@thedevilinme (4152)
• Northampton, England
12 Dec
The point it its a congestive test for dementia so if you cant do it ....
2 people like this
@thedevilinme (4152)
• Northampton, England
13 Dec
@JudyEv Not with early on set.Dementia its not.
1 person likes this
@aureategloom (11404)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
12 Dec
that sounds interesting and like a good idea. i don't know if there's such examination in Bosnia. senior citizens only have to do similar assessment to validate their driving license. except for that - i never heard of it, but i think it would be good if we had those
3 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47667)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
12 Dec
Well, I hope he was able to ace the test. Going backwards by 5s is so easy. The only way one could get that 'wrong' is to suddenly start counting forward again midway through.
2 people like this
@allknowing (137744)
• India
12 Dec
If anything is detected is there a way to sort it out such as one's cognitive level?
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (51588)
• Canada
12 Dec
I love that sculpture, he looks like he is having a fun time.
That makes complete sense that they would change the number, it would take a bit longer to count back with almost any number but 2, 5 or 10 for me. Ooops, maybe that is an indication that I am showing signs of it. 
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342060)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Dec
All the oldies have discussed this test so they do what they can to prepare for it. Offhand, I may not be able to immediately tell you the date but if I were going for this test, I'd be sure to check on the date before I went into the room.
Offhand, I may not be able to immediately tell you the date but if I were going for this test, I'd be sure to check on the date before I went into the room. 1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Dec
Just love the swan on the skateboard.
2 people like this
