Forgetfulness or Dementia? Understanding the Signs
As we age, bouts of forgetfulness are fairly normal. Many people misplace their car keys or forget they have an appointment scheduled. However, if memory problems start to interfere with everyday life, it could be an indication of a serious issue.
Decoding Memory Changes in Your Senior Loved One
The question becomes: How can you tell the difference between age-related forgetfulness and a more severe memory condition? If you’re concerned that your senior loved one is developing dementia, here are several strong indications, according to the National Institute on Aging.
Regular Forgetfulness
- Forgetting the name of an acquaintance.
- Struggling to find the correct word to use.
- Losing items on occasion.
- Forgetting what day it is, but remembering it later on.
- Being unable to remember specifics of a conversation or event from a year ago.
- Forgetting to pay a monthly bill.
Signs of Dementia
- Severe memory loss, like forgetting important dates, holidays, and events.
- An inability to recognize the names or faces of family members.
- Frequent pauses or substitutions when thinking of a word.
- Repeating the same question many times.
- Poor judgment. For instance, making strange decisions about money, dressing inappropriately for the weather, and not bathing.
- Difficulty with familiar tasks, such as driving and cooking.
How to Tell the Difference
One of the key factors in distinguishing between typical memory loss and dementia is how much the senior’s life has been impacted. Ask yourself the question, Have their daily routines been disrupted? If your loved one is no longer able to perform simple tasks on their own because they can’t remember the steps or get confused, it’s possible they have dementia.
Paying attention to their memory changes over several months can also give you a good scope of the person’s cognitive functioning. Periods of forgetfulness often occur when a senior is tired, sick, taking a new medication, or experiencing stress, then resolves later on. Conversely, dementia symptoms usually persist and worsen over time.
Talk with your senior loved one’s health care provider if you believe their forgetfulness goes beyond typical aging. Early detection is critical to getting your relative the support and treatment they need.
Seeing your loved one struggle with dementia can be heart-wrenching. We have a past blog post that offers tips for How to Respond When Loved Ones with Dementia are Confused.
Dementia Care with Visiting Angels Can Help
If your family member has recently been diagnosed with dementia and could use professional support, Visiting Angels Tacoma can help. Our dementia care program helps older adults stay living independently at home, no matter their condition or ability level. Their friendly caregiver will provide assistance with personal care tasks, manage medications, and assist with mentally engaging activities. They’ll also take fall prevention and monitoring measures to help keep your loved one comfortable and safe.
Experience peace of mind with Visiting Angels Tacoma. Contact us today to learn more about dementia care or schedule a free consultation.
Local Resources in the Tacoma Area
In addition to Visiting Angels, there are many local organizations that can help your family navigate this journey, including: