Is The End Near? What Will Dina’s Legacy Be On The Young And The Restless?

The Abbott family is in absolute turmoil on The Young and the Restless (YR) right now. Not only are Jack and Ashley about to fight their differences out in court, but they are also trying to care for their seriously ill mother.

Marla Adams has been doing award-winning quality work as Dina, who is dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. Dina stands to influence her children’s lives in a way she could never have imagined!

Inevitably, Dina will succumb to the disease that has already taken many memories, causing her children heartache as they watched their mother slip away in such a painful manner.

But she’s not gone yet. Dina has many moments of clarity and many Alzheimer’s patients live for years, so her story is not quite done.

As her story continues, we may see Dina’s condition reunite her children Jack (Peter Bergman) and Ashley (Eileen Davidson). The two may decide to put aside their squabbles over Jabot and work together to make sure their mother’s sunset years are comfortable ones.

Plus, Dina’s care has kept Traci (Beth Maitland) in Genoa City lately, too. Watching Traci’s frustration with her quarreling siblings as well as her heartache at her mother’s terrible memory loss has ripped out our hearts more than once recently.

Another byproduct of Dina’s condition could be Ashley and Victor (Eric Braeden) reuniting. The mustached mogul was very compassionate with Dina when he recently took her dancing. Ashley noted that there’s a different side to Victor than the powerful man many people see.

Perhaps Ashley will fall in love with Victor all over again, and since Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) appears to live in an open marriage, it’s only fair that Victor finds fulfillment elsewhere, too!

Y&R won’t necessarily have Dina pass on anytime soon. We’ve already seen Dina leave Genoa City and return to Paris once. Perhaps she’ll go back there to be cared for in a facility if she finds those surroundings more comfortable?

The top-rated soap has a long history of tackling important social issues and in a way, Dina was a great choice to tell the story of Alzheimer’s disease. Other matriarchs on the show had already passed on either in real-life or on the show — Katherine (Jeanne Cooper), Mary (Carolyn Conwell), and Liz (Julianna McCarthy).

Choosing Dina has rejuvenated the Abbott clan as the family has come together to aid their mother.

The Young and the Restless (YR) airs weekdays on CBS. Check local listings for airtimes.