Subtle Signs of Dementia

By Marina Pink | August 23, 2018 |

One of the things that people worry about with age is memory loss. Some mild forgetfulness is considered normal, such as forgetting a name, but recalling it later. Still, some early signs of dementia are subtle and could go unnoticed if you don’t know what to look for. Below are some early, subtle signs of dementia to watch for.

Relying Heavily on Reminders

Have you noticed your aging relative using their phone or sticky notes a lot to remind themselves of things? Do they need to write down even just an item or two before going to the store? Needing to use reminders for nearly everything can be a sign that the senior is beginning to lose their memory.

Forgetting Things That Just Happened

Does your family member set down their glasses and minutes later forget where they put them? Or, are they able to tell you about events from their childhood, but unable to say what they had for breakfast? Short-term memory losses are a common early indicator of dementia.

Trouble Following Directions

Is your elderly mother who has always enjoyed cooking having trouble following recipes? Or, does she have difficulty following the steps for other tasks, particularly if they involve numbers? People in the early stages of dementia often have trouble performing complex tasks that were once routine.

Problems with Vision

Has your aging relative given up reading because it’s hard to see the words on the page? Are they having difficulty telling one color from another? Does their depth perception seem off? There are plenty of age-related eye problems that have nothing to do with dementia, such as cataracts. However, dementia can affect a person’s ability to understand spatial relationships and other visual images.

Difficulty with Conversations

Have you ever heard your older family member use strange terms for an object, like calling a watch a “hand clock?” Do they seem frequently unable to remember the words for things? It’s normal to occasionally be unable to think of a word, but if it’s happening a lot, there may be cause for concern.

If your aging relative shows any of these signs, make an appointment with their doctor to have them evaluated. Should they be diagnosed with dementia, home care can help them to live independently for as long as possible. Home care providers can keep them safe at home, watching over them to make certain they do not make unsafe decisions. Home care can also take care of household tasks as they get more difficult for the senior to perform, such as cleaning and cooking.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering home care in Culver City, CA please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388

Sources

https://www.healthline.com/health/dementia/early-warning-signs#symptoms

https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs

https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/early-warning-signs-when-to-call-the-doctor-about-alzheimers#1

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Marina Pink

Owner at Home Care Help

Marina Pink is the Owner at Home Care Help. Home Care Help is an innovator in providing services in a caring and professional manner. We have an exceptional history, spanning twenty-three years, of providing care to people in moments that matter most. It is our utmost priority to address every need in a timely manner; and, it is our goal, above all else, to give the level of support that enables our residents to have as much independence as possible with care and respect.