Your elderly mom still lives in her own home, and really loves the independence that affords her. But lately you’ve noticed that her memory seems to be fading to the point it’s starting to concern you. She forgot her last two doctor’s appointments, and when you stopped by recently to visit your mom even forgot your spouse’s name. You spoke to a friend who’s a nurse about the situation, and she mentioned that it could be the onset of dementia. But you’re still not sure that’s the case, and certainly want the best for your mom without intruding upon her privacy. The first step is determining if she truly has dementia. What follows are the signs to look for.

What Causes Dementia?

Over 40 million seniors worldwide currently suffer from dementia. Within the next 15 years that number is expected to grow significantly. Dementia is not one specific memory disorder, but rather describes a number of symptoms that can be brought about by a variety of negative cognitive influences. Alzheimer’s is the primary cause of dementia, accounting for roughly three-fourths of the cases. Dementia can also be caused by a vascular stroke or by certain diseases including Huntington’s and Creutzfeldt-Jakob.

What are the Signs of Dementia?

Once your loved one is diagnosed with dementia, it can be challenging and frustrating from that point forward. A senior with the disease experiences more-and-more difficulty communicating with others. Once-simple tasks can oftentimes become intimidating. Unfortunately, there’s no cure for dementia and your loved one’s condition will probably worsen over time. But caught early on, there are now ways to help slow the disease’s progression. Therefore, initially recognizing dementia’s onset is very important. Dementia symptoms can be clinically broken down into two categories; psychological and cognitive.

Psychological:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Changes in personality
  • Hallucinations
  • Paranoia
  • Atypical behavior

Cognitive (Memory-related):

  • Trouble planning and organizing
  • Memory loss that’s typically first noticed by a spouse or close loved one
  • Difficulty communicating or expressing thoughts
  • Seeming confused and disoriented
  • Failing to carry out more complex tasks
  • Lack of coordination and motor skills

When you start to notice several of these troubling signs in your aging parent, take them to a licensed medical doctor for evaluation. The good news is that during the past three decades several major advancements have taken place in the U.S. This has resulted in a much better understanding of dementia prevention, diagnosis and treatment. In fact, a senior American today has roughly a 40% less chance of developing the disease than they did 30 years ago. But unfortunately, it can still happen to your elderly loved one. When it does there will come a time when it’s not safe for them to continue living on their own. When that happens, you’ll need to consider some daily living assistance, including professional in-home senior care.

Reliable In-Home Care for Seniors

Taking care of an aging parent with dementia can be overwhelming at times. When you need help, rest assured that a reliable caregiver from Seniors Prefer Homecare can assist you in providing your loved one with the compassionate in-home dementia care they need. Our team of caregiving experts are carefully-screened, well-trained and highly-qualified to restore your peace-of-mind.

The reliable services at Seniors Prefer Homecare can be flexibly-tailored depending upon your needs, from a few hours per week to 24-hour care. In-home senior care services such as meal preparation, light housework, personal hygiene, transportation and companionship, are all delivered in a reliable and affordable package to put your mind at-ease. To learn more about the family-trusted in-home care services Seniors Prefer Homecare offers in the Huntsville and Tuscaloosa, AL areas, or to schedule a FREE consultation today, visit: www.seniorspreferhomecare.com now.