Taiwan singer Li Ya-Ping, 75, with dementia claims son calls her 'useless thing', son denies ever saying that

Taiwanese singer Li Ya-Ping, 75, revealed that she is currently experiencing symptoms of dementia and memory loss.

According to Taiwanese media outlet ETtoday, the 75-year-old spoke candidly about her ongoing struggle with her condition while filming the variety show Super Lucky with her daughter-in-law Chang Yuan-Rou on Dec. 17.

She shared that it was linked to long-term depression, social withdrawal and bipolar disorder, and has since become a growing concern for her family.

“I’m chatting with you now, but later I may forget who I've spoken to.”

A day later, on Dec. 18, Taiwanese news outlet SET News published an exclusive interview with Li, in which she elaborated on her symptoms.

"I might be chatting with you now, but later I may forget who I’ve spoken to," she said, describing the challenges she faces in daily life.

She revealed that she occasionally talks to herself at home, and would sometimes experience moments of confusion and hallucination as well, ETtoday reported.

"At home, I would walk around talking to myself," she said. "When I see the empty dining table and chairs, I would think, "Isn't that Yafu eating there?""

Yafu is Li's younger brother who passed away in 2019.

Li said her husband, 77-year-old singer and former legislator Yu Tian, found it hard to watch and eventually stepped in to remind her that her brother had passed away many years ago.

On one occasion, she recalled brushing her teeth and changing clothes at 4 am, believing it was 4 pm and preparing to head out.

"They had to tell me it was only 4 am and asked where I was going. I even dreamt that my whole bedroom was moved to a stage," she said.

Li further shared that there were times when she would visit the doctor and forget to collect her medication before leaving.

She also revealed that she would often dream of her close friend who had passed on, and would wake up in the middle of the night feeling overwhelmed.

"He called me a useless thing"

During the interview, Li also alleged that her son, Ken Yu, had called her a "useless thing" as she wasn't earning an income, and that he would often threaten to move out.

According to Lianhe Zaobao, Ken later clarified that he never said such things.

"She may be filling in the gaps in her imagination," he said. "Do you think I would say something like that?"

However, Ken acknowledged that the pair sometimes argued over daily habits, such as Li watching videos of people popping pimples during mealtimes, which he finds unpleasant, though she does not understand why it bothers him.

Ken also expressed concern that his mother would sometimes place orders for unknown food products she came across while watching videos online, despite repeated reminders not to do so.

At times, she would offer these items to his daughter, which frustrated him.

However, Ken was quick to clarify that he has never considered moving out.

"My parents are already so old, how could I possibly move out?" he said.

Top photos via @rou860209/Instagram and @kob_kenyu/Instagram