5 Signs A Family Member May Be Experiencing Dementia

As people age, they are more likely to experience some forms of forgetfulness, but sometimes it's more than forgetfulness; it's dementia. Dementia is one of the many reasons seniors may lose their independence. Being aware of early signs of dementia may allow you to get help and treatment for your loved one. Here are five signs a family member may be experiencing dementia. 

Memory loss that disrupts daily life 

You may notice your loved one is becoming more forgetful. For example, it is fairly common for someone to temporarily forget an appointment or a person's name. What is not normal is forgetting recently learned information, forgetting to turn off home appliances, or even continually forgetting to lock doors.

Wandering 

Many people who have dementia may walk off, wander, and become lost. For example, a person with dementia may wander off after a walk and becomes confused about their location and might not be able to find their way back home. They may also have undiagnosed dementia and could easily get lost if they are still driving 

Difficulty communicating

As dementia progresses, you may find your loved one struggling to find the right words. They may use the wrong words for everyday items.  They become frustrated when they have a hard time getting the words out.

Mood and behavioral changes 

Everyone has experience with becoming sad or upset from time to time. However, your loved one may have rapid mood swings for no apparent reason and you may also notice an unexplained shift in personality. For example, the person with dementia may become introverted, sad, or possibly experience sundowning. 

Difficulty completing familiar tasks

You may notice your loved one having a hard time completing hygienic tasks such as bathing, brushing teeth, etc. Along with the struggle to complete familiar tasks, they may struggle to learn how to do new things or follow new routines.

Calson has been actively involved in senior living for over 30 years, and we are continuously innovating our communities for seniors throughout Northern California. Our family and team members work hard to provide a safe, engaging, and comfortable environment for our residents. Our memory care communities offer a specialized program to residents and their families to receive memory-focused activities by caregivers trained to understand the challenges of memory loss. The goal of the program is to create a peaceful and secure community while promoting comfortable and interactive activities to engage residents that adheres to the latest memory care thinking available.

Want to learn more about our communities? Contact us today.

Click here to download the full list of dementia symptoms.