By Shelley Gillespie | East Valley Tribune
Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell had a very personal reason for seeking “Dementia Friendly City” status for the city. His mother Marianne has suffered a 12-year decline, with Alzheimer’s disease progressively robbing her of her memories and functionality.
To Mitchell’s family, which has seen Marianne deteriorate, the loss has been devastating. One sign of her changes was getting lost taking her granddaughter to her Girl Scout troop, an errand she had run many times. She put clothing in the dishwasher and toothpaste on her hands instead of lotion.
