Aging may just be the trickiest challenge any of us will ever face. Possibly the only thing more difficult than suffering our own indignities of aging is walking through the ever-so-gradual decline of and caregiving for those we love most who are suffering from dementia.

The onset can seem almost imperceptible at first. Maybe your loved one seems a little more forgetful than usual, but you rationalize; we’ve all forgotten somebody’s name on occasion or wondered why we walked into a room now and then. What’s normal and what’s not?

But it’s when you begin to notice these occurrences become more and more frequent that concern is likely warranted. Over time, you notice completing everyday tasks is more of a struggle than it used to be. You begin to ask yourself, “What’s with taking 30 minutes for simple things like brushing your teeth or putting your shoes on?” or “Why is completing a simple task now a major ordeal?” Eventually, you may even notice a shift in your loved one’s personality as they become increasingly confused, anxious, or frustrated over what used to be minor, everyday inconveniences. What has happened to the parent you’ve always known to be fully capable, fully coherent, and fully engaged?

Making the call between what is normal aging and the early stages of dementia can be very difficult. It’s a hard reality to begin to entertain, especially because the initial signs of dementia can be vague, sporadic, and easily discounted. Family, friends, and caregivers may even second guess themselves into not believing the symptoms presented are really indicative of dementia, Alzheimer’s, or some other degenerative neurological disease. But, if, in fact it is some form of dementia, over time the presentation of symptoms simply becomes too much to fully ignore.

It is helpful to understand that dementia is the overall term that encompasses many of the major diseases that adversely affect brain health. One of the most common misconceptions is that dementia and Alzheimer’s are the same because they are frequently (and incorrectly) used interchangeably. To be clear, dementia and Alzheimer’s are not the same. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia, but dementia is not necessarily always Alzheimer’s. Within the dementia classification, the primary types of neurocognitive decline are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. And while each of these types of dementia vary in how they affect patients, one thing is common among all the distinct kinds—early treatment is always preferred to delayed action. That is because early intervention brings with it the potential to possibly delay further cognitive decline from the point at which it is first diagnosed—and that is significant for everyone involved.

The Top 10 Signs to Look for if You Suspect Dementia in a Loved One

Rarely will one person exhibit all of these major signs of dementia. For most, it is the consistent presence of several symptoms to the point where progressive decline is clearly evident. When in doubt, it is always advisable to seek the opinion of a physician or a team of medical professionals for evaluation. It is also helpful to remember these symptoms will look different in everyone—what may present as a very significant change may show up as a minor issue in others. What matters most are the marked and definitive changes in your loved one that indicate a decline in functional and cognitive abilities.

These are the signs to take into consideration when assessing your loved one’s possible decline due to dementia

1. Memory loss – This is probably the most common symptom associated with dementia and can show up in all sorts of ways. Again there is an important distinction to understand: occasional forgetfulness is a common hallmark of aging; memory loss is not. The often used example is keys. Not knowing where you left your keys is not worth concern; not knowing what keys are used for is worrisome. Memory loss can look like repeatedly forgetting familiar names (especially of close friends and family), forgetting significant events, and even an excessive use of sticky notes around the house as coping mechanisms.
2. Difficulty solving simple problems – A decline in straightforward problem-solving (think cause-and-effect situations) or a diminished ability to plan ahead is frequently associated with deteriorating executive functions and an indication of early stage dementia. If you notice your loved one struggles to do previously simple lifestyle tasks such as following the steps of a favorite recipe or tending to basic bookkeeping such as balancing a checking account or paying bills, these may be early indications.
3. Completing familiar tasks – This can present itself in many ways, but the completion of daily tasks such as remembering which order to use the washer and dryer, understanding that some foods require refrigeration, turning off potentially dangerous appliances such as the stove or an iron—all of these can be both significant red flags as well as potential danger risks. Other simple tasks such as using a cell phone, trouble driving to familiar places such as the grocery store, or confusion even within the neighborhood are also telltale signs.
4. Confusion with time and place – We all lose track of the date sometimes, even the day of the week occasionally, but when the concept of time, days of the week, or months of the year seem like foreign concepts, this is worth evaluating. Understanding such things as remembering dinner is at 6:00 p.m. or that friends are coming over tomorrow at 2:00 are simple time-specific events that should be easy to consistently remember.
5. Problems seeing well and maintaining balance – The impact of dementia is not limited to neurological issues. There is also a physical component to the disease. People in the early stages of dementia frequently have trouble maintaining their balance, judging distances from one place to another (for example: the gap between a dining chair and the table), sleeping well, and are oftentimes prone to random wandering (both within their home and outside of it). Sometimes eating and drinking are problematic as coordination can also suffer. Naturally, our reflexes slow as we age, but repeatedly spilling things (misjudging setting the glass on the table), dropping things (inability to walk balanced enough to carry a book across the room), and unexplained cuts and bruises (from furniture bang-ups or falls) are evidence of spatial and balancing decline.
6. Issues with speech and writing – Dementia goes well beyond just not finding the right word sometimes. It often shows up in a loved one’s inability to remember something such as a spoon, how to say it, and usually how to spell it. This is compounded by their difficulty in following conversations, picking up on social cues when visiting with others, and a diminished ability to write complete sentences, or even simplistic items such as grocery lists.
7. Misplacing items – What’s the first thing we do when we’ve misplaced our sunglasses? Most of us retrace our steps—from the car to the house to the entryway table to…and there they are—alongside the stack of mail you were carrying when you set your sunglasses down. Dementia patients have a difficult time going backwards in time and remembering what happened before the here and now. One minute they were there and now they’re here—what happened in the interim can be a blur which makes finding misplaced items particularly challenging. Closely related to not being able to find lost items is placing items in obviously incorrect spots. This could look like putting the butter dish in the bathroom, a fork in a nightstand drawer, or car keys in the dryer.
8. Poor judgment – When the filter of discernment wanes, dementia-induced poor judgment often steps in. This also aligns closely with significant personality changes. Consider a loved one who has always been very attentive to housekeeping slowly devolving into a home in disarray and dirty. What would have previously been unacceptable now goes unnoticed. One of the more harmful ways poor judgment presents is a senior person’s susceptibility to scams—in person, on the phone, or via the internet. When their ability to discern questionable people or offers or promises is compromised, they are all-too-easy targets for scam artists looking to capitalize on their vulnerability.

The decline into the confusing and confounding world of dementia is difficult for everyone touched by the disease. Certainly, the older person is frustrated (though not always able to understand why) and understandably, those charged with caring for these individuals can become equally at odds at the erratic behavior of their loved one. Especially in the beginning, some days are counted as ‘good’ days when life is relatively normal, but up against these times are days of failing abilities, emotional outbursts, and uncharacteristic behavior—all for no apparent reason. What triggered the setback? What brought on their anger and angst? How do you best help them where they are when caring for them is a moment-by-moment challenge?

At Mom’s Best Friend, we have caregivers specifically trained to serve patients facing dementia and the families who love them. Our caregivers know the importance of consistency of care and the comfort a daily routine can be for an individual with dementia. They are skilled at comforting the agitated and calming the excitable. They are quick to identify techniques that work and keep family members well informed of these successful practices. They know the person in their care was once capable of so much more and has likely served their family unselfishly for the better part of their life. They know all this and more and consider it a privilege to serve both the individuals and their families by the most compassionate means possible.

The complete staffing resources and professional guidance are at your fingertips when you partner with Mom’s Best Friend Senior and Elder Care. Our services are available across the DFW Metroplex, in cities like Dallas, Highland Park, University Park, Plano, Frisco, Southlake, Flower Mound, Argyle, and more. We know you’re looking for the absolute best in-home caregiver for your loved one with dementia and we consider it a privilege to help you find just the right fit.

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We are on a mission! From our very first interaction, we strive to provide compassionate care, going above and beyond anticipation to alleviate families of their feelings of guilt and stress. Through every stage of the planning process, we’re doing our utmost to make your senior loved ones’ later years into their greater years. Through our inspired care process, we ensure the inclusion of respite care in Dallas while also imparting the necessary tools and guidance to meet your family’s needs.

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