My mom is 74 now, and we have our normal range mother/daughter bickering. I take it seriously but it also is really not that serious. The trends have been that she does not really listen well, likes to be in control a lot, and avoids emotions. I have talked to my best friend and we think a lot is generational and then also personality.
So now she is getting older, I don't think that old. I am seeing some small mental changes. She told my sister that she is forgetting some things and my dad is not being very nice about it. She manages an amazing amount of stuff and always has. Sooner or later she will slow down in some way. And I am d** sure I am the last person she will talk to, even though I am the most likely to be able to support in some way. The latest is that we are taking a super fast trip to Iowa. I mentioned to my mom that my future SIL and I both really like to do all the driving so we would need to negotiate. Next thing I get a text that my dad can drive from Iowa to pick us up and back. Basically 4 days of driving, and I have NO CLUE why. So I texted back that it was very generous and we would be fine. When I asked on the phone later she wouldn't really answer. Long before this we have had communication odd-nesses. Things like talking about my friend visiting and our trip to the tea factory and buying a special tea. My mom called the next day saying she was looking for the tea to send to my friend. Again NO CLUE, I just said we went to buy it.
I am not sure when this becomes an issue,