No one wants to see their senior parents or another beloved relative struggling with declining health, but unfortunately, this is to be expected as part of the aging process. While physical ailments are always difficult to deal with, a decline in mental health is just as hard to face, but unfortunately is not always seen. Dementia is not an uncommon issue that senior citizens face, and if you notice any of the following signs in your elderly parent or relative, it could be cause for concern.
Memory Loss
The most obvious sign of dementia is if you notice that they are struggling with their memory. Although having a forgetful moment or two is something that happens to everybody, if it appears that they are consistently forgetting things, particularly events that have just happened, or things that have just been said in conversation, this is more concerning. They might also forget the names of people they are close to or thinking that that person is someone else entirely.
Lack of Concentration
Another indication that they might be developing dementia is if they struggle to concentrate. Again, this is something that happens to everyone on occasion, whether it’s because you are too tired or simply distracted by something else at the time. However, if you have noticed that your relative is consistently checking out of conversations, or appears to stop focusing on tasks midway, this might be a sign that something isn’t quite right. It can also be dangerous if they leave the stove on, for example, and forget to turn it off. This is why considering residential memory care if they are diagnosed with dementia is important. You can find out more about these kinds of services by looking at this facility for memory care Brick NJ.
Struggling to Manage with Daily Tasks
If your senior relative is struggling to do things like dress themselves in the morning or prepare their meals, this isn’t necessarily a sign that they are developing dementia, but perhaps that they could benefit from assisted living, or having a carer visit them at home to help them out. If your relative is struggling with this and showing any of the other signs in this list though, you may want to seek professional advice and get them checked out.
Mood Swings
Mood swings are another sign to watch out for. These can be unpleasant experiences for everyone involved, especially if you can’t understand what has triggered this change. It could be because they are frustrated with losing the ability to do things as well as they used to, or it could be because they are scared or confused about what is happening to them. Whatever the reason, try to be sensitive and work on calming them down, rather than getting angry or irritated with them over this.
Signs of dementia can come on slowly in some cases, so you may not notice these things at first. However, if you are growing concerned over your relative’s condition, you should go and see a doctor as soon as possible to get a diagnosis confirmed, and then move forward with exploring care and treatment options.
