There are so many different ways that normal aging affects memory and cognitive wellness, so it’s easy to mistake those changes for the early stages of dementia. When is it really time to consider talking to a doctor about dementia? Understanding the answer to that question helps family caregivers get seniors the help they need, including Alzheimer’s care services to offer hands-on support.
Trouble Recalling Recent Events
Events or conversations that happened a while ago can be really easy to forget, even for people with good memories. When seniors start to have trouble remembering events that occurred recently, that’s a bigger problem. If this is happening more often, seniors may want to talk to their doctors about the possibility of dementia.
Not Recognizing Close Friends or Family Members
As surprising as it sounds, even in the earlier stages of dementia seniors might have more trouble recognizing close friends and even family members. They might try to play off mistakes, or even pretend as if they do recognize the person. Keeping notes with descriptions of people and their relationship to seniors can help them feel less insecure about not recognizing people. Seniors may want to talk with their doctors to rule out other issues, especially if they’re misidentifying people they love often.
Consistent Trouble Finding Words in Conversations
A common symptom for seniors with dementia is that they have trouble finding words during conversations. Anyone can have trouble with this now and again, but if this is happening more frequently, it can be an indication of bigger issues. Taking conversations slowly and letting seniors find their words can help quite a bit. Labeling items around the house can help if the issue is mostly with words that describe common items.
Forgetting Appointments or Other Important Information Frequently
If seniors in the early stages of dementia are having more trouble getting to appointments consistently or remembering other important information, home care providers can help. They can assist seniors with keeping track of their appointments and even assist with transportation if necessary. Updating notes and offering reminders also helps. Multiple types of reminders, like a calendar on the refrigerator and reminders in a smartphone calendar, can also help when seniors have a lot of trouble keeping up with events.
Other People Are Worried, But Seniors Say They’re Fine
Sometimes what happens is that seniors don’t notice that they’re having some of these issues. Other people, like family members and friends, may notice changes and mention them. Keeping track of issues and gently sharing what they’re seeing is a way for family caregivers to help seniors understand why others are concerned. Occasionally the denial is really strong, making this conversation tougher than expected.
Not every senior experiences the early stages of dementia in the exact same ways. There are common symptoms that are similar from one person’s experience to another, but there are many individual changes. Working with Alzheimer’s care providers can help, even when families are still working on getting an official diagnosis for their aging family members.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s care in The Heights, TX for an aging loved one, please call the caring staff at At Your Side Home Care. We will answer all of your senior care questions. Call today: (832) 271-1600.
At Your Side Home Care, provides exceptional home care assistance for seniors and families in Houston, West Houston, Katy, Memorial, The Heights, Spring Valley, Garden Oaks, Hunters Creek, River Oaks, Hilshire Village, Galleria, Cinco Ranch, Spring Branch, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenburg, Piney Point, Bay City and surrounding areas.
Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.
Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week
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