Dad’s been more forgetful lately – things like not remembering where he put his mail and having trouble recalling the neighbor’s name. He jokes about having ‘senior moments,’ but I’m starting to wonder if it’s a normal part of aging or if it’s something more serious, like Alzheimer’s.”
Everyone has occasional trouble recalling the right word or sometimes makes a bad decision. But how do you know if your parent’s struggles are normal or the signs of something more? And what should you do if you think your parent has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia?
Know the Difference
So, what’s considered a normal age-related change and what could be a sign of some form of dementia? Pay attention to these 10 aspects of your parent’s daily life.
1. Memory
Normal: Occasionally forgetting appointments or names but remembering them later.
Warning signs: More serious memory loss that disrupts daily life, including forgetting things they recently learned, asking for the same information repeatedly, forgetting important dates or events, or relying more heavily on memory aids or family members for things they used to handle themselves.
2. Planning & Problem-solving
Normal: Occasional mistakes handling finances, such as when they balance their checkbook or miss a monthly payment.
Warning signs: Losing track of monthly bills, having a harder time concentrating or making and following a plan, taking much longer to do things than they did before, or having more difficulty working with numbers.
3. Familiar Tasks
Normal: Sometimes needing help using the settings on a microwave or recording a TV show.
Warning signs: Difficulty completing familiar tasks such as making a sandwich or changing the channel, trouble driving to a familiar location, can’t remember the rules of a favorite game, and/or new difficulties managing a budget.
4. Time & Place
Normal: Forgetting which day of the week it is but remembering later.
Warning signs: Losing track of dates, seasons or the passage of time; forgetting where they are or how they got there; trouble understanding something not happening right now.
5. Spatial Relationships & Visual Images
Normal: Age-related vision changes related to cataracts.
Warning signs: Difficulty judging distances, determining color or contrast, or reading.
6. Speaking or Writing
Normal: Occasionally struggling to find the right word.
Warning signs: Trouble participating in a conversation, such as repeating themselves, or stopping in the middle and not knowing how to continue. Calling things by the wrong name or more frequent problems finding the right words.
7. Misplacing Items & Retracing Steps
Normal: Occasionally misplacing an item but able to retrace their steps to find it.
Warning signs: Putting things in unusual places (i.e., the TV remote in the freezer); losing things and not being able to retrace steps to find them; accusing others of stealing items they’ve misplaced.
8. Decision-making & Judgment
Normal: Making a bad decision now and then.
Warning signs: Changes in judgment about money (i.e., going on buying sprees or giving large amounts of money to telemarketers). Paying less attention to grooming and keeping clean.
9. Work or Social Activities
Normal: Sometimes feeling weary of family, work or social obligations.
Warning signs: Withdrawing from hobbies, social activities or projects; having trouble keeping up with their favorite team or remembering how to work on their hobby. Avoiding socialization with friends and family.
10. Mood & Personality
Normal: Developing a specific routine and getting irritable if it’s interrupted.
Warning signs: Personality changes, including becoming confused, suspicious, fearful, anxious or depressed; also, getting easily upset and lashing out.
It May Not Be What You Think
If you see any of the warning signs listed, schedule an appointment with their doctor. Be aware that other conditions can cause memory problems that look like dementia:
- Head injury
- Medication side effects
- Too much alcohol
- Tumors, blood clots or brain infections
- Thyroid, kidney or liver disorders
- Emotional issues like depression, stress or anxiety
- Early detection of a physical or emotional issue, as well as Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, can help your family make the most of available interventions and give you more time to plan for appropriate care.
Memory Care Options
If your loved one is diagnosed with some form of memory disorder or dementia, you have options with Lake Gibson Village to get them the care and assistance they need.
“If you and your family are having trouble coping with your loved one’s increased needs, reach out for help and support,” says Lake Gibson Village’s Executive Director, Amanda Tenpenny. “Joining support groups, talking to a counselor or pastor, or seeking out options for care can help to make your journey easier for you, your loved one and your family.”
Call us at 863-815-6195 to schedule a tour or to simply get some additional resources. Of course, you can also visit us any time at Reflections Memory Care – Lake Gibson Village.