Dementia or “senility” is a frustrating and debilitating syndrome that affects an individual’s reasoning, memory and other cognitive abilities. Most individuals can’t distinguish between age-related memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s as they share similar symptoms. However, dementia is a group of impairments without a definite diagnosis that causes a wide range of symptoms. It is typically caused by vitamin deficiencies, thyroid issues, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s, stroke, vascular disease, brain cell death, etc.
According to www.healthline.com, dementia begins with impairments of thought, communication, and memory that leads to a significant reduction in their cognitive abilities and their ability to function on a daily basis.
As one might imagine, this can be an extremely frightening and heart-breaking experience for the elder and those that love them. If your beloved senior is experiencing fragmented memory or memory loss and are having a difficult time communicating with loved ones, they may be experiencing age-related loss of memory, dementia or Alzheimer’s.
The good news is that medical professionals are quite knowledgeable about distinguishing between the various types of memory issues and can help you and your family determine the difference between age-related memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s. So, your first step is to seek assistance from a competent medical professional to help you and your loved one diagnose the issue and develop a suitable treatment plan. In the meantime, here are five early indications of dementia that you should be aware of:
- The most visible sign of dementia is a significant change in the senior’s vision. He or she may experience difficulty perusing or seeing the distinctions in shading of objects. While driving or riding in a car, they may also experience separations or breaks in objects or may not understand where the road ends and where the pavement begins. This inability to understand the separation of objects may extend to the home also, wherein they may not be able to differentiate between a chair and a table, a bed and a sofa, etc.
- The second indication of dementia is the inability to properly construct sentences. He or she may have a hard time engaging in conversations. For instance, the senior may stop in the middle of a discussion and forget about what they were talking about or may not know how to proceed. They may find it difficult to articulate certain thoughts or feelings and may also have a hard time saying a word although it’s on the “tip of their tongue.”
- The third indication that a senior may experience is the ability to make sound judgments. For instance, they may approach outsiders for a ride home or ask someone they just met for some money or food. They may offer cash to telemarketers or give their lunch to a stranger on the street although they’re extremely hungry and need to eat before they take their medication. In essence, their thought process is mostly guided by random thoughts and judgments that are made entirely within their head, without paying attention to the surroundings or outcomes.
- The fourth indication is the fact that your senior may become unaware of time. That is, they will not be aware that time exists and will not be able to recollect what day, date or season it is. They may think they are in an alternate year, and it’s mostly possible that will repeatedly mistake their time frame and go back to the moments they have already lived in the past.
- Finally, your senior may have a significant change in personality. That is, they may all of a sudden stop taking an interest in exercises although they were previously very active, they may become withdrawn although they used to enjoy social gathering. A friendly and happy person may become depressed and angry. Also, they may become disoriented and confused. That is, they may not recognize people, including their spouses, children, or loved ones.
Detecting the early signs of dementia can be scary to witness but is absolutely necessary. By being aware of your senior’s symptoms and seeking medical attention, you can help them obtain adequate health care and attention. At Nurses Guild, we work with seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other health conditions so that they stay safe and cared for in their own homes. We pride ourselves on providing exceptional home health care throughout Broward and Palm Beach Counties and can come to your senior’s home to help you care for them. So, whether your senior has dementia, Alzheimer’s or simply age-related memory issues, we are here to help you take care of them.