Psychological Changes For Dementia Patients
- Changes in mood: Frequent mood swings, increased sensitivity to change, and increased anxiety and agitation.
- Personality changes: Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities and sometimes completely changed personality and behaviors.
- Hallucinations or paranoia: In later stages of dementia, sufferers may believe that even close friends or family are dangerous or “out to get them”.
- Neglecting safety, personal hygiene, exercise, or nutrition. May display decreased judgement skills involving money, like careless purchases or giving away large sums of money.
- Socially inappropriate behavior: Making rude or explicit sexual comments publicly or to strangers.
Loss Of Daily Life Skills
A home that may not be as well kept as usual may be a sign that the person living there has dementia. They may lose the ability to do many of the things they normally do themselves, such as preparing meals, household chores and eating and drinking properly.
They may also struggle to maintain their personal hygiene and getting dressed. Deciding what to wear, how to put things on and in the right order may become increasingly difficult. Getting around the house without walking into furniture and other items may also be a problem.
Dementia Vs Alzheimers Whats The Difference
Although younger people throughout Lancaster, York, and the rest of the world can develop Alzheimers disease or dementia and require the helpful hands of caregivers, your risk of each increases with age. The symptoms of the two conditions often overlap, so distinguishing them is critical for proper treatment and senior care.
Feeling confused, forgetful, or having a hard time doing everyday tasks? Here are five early warning signs of dementia to be mindful of and ensure you receive the very best dementia care:
In the early stages of dementia, its common to become confused. From misplaced car keys and forgetting people youve met before, when thinking, judgement, and memory lapses, confusion can arise. Some dementia sufferers are able to overcome this confusion and manage their symptoms. For others, their confusion only intensifies with age, resulting in the need for dementia home care.
- Short-Term Memory Changes
Memory troubles are often another early sign of dementia. At first, memory difficulties are often subtle and only involve short-term memory. Someone may be able to remember an event from decades ago but not the movie they watched last night. In such a case, in home care for dementia may be necessary, especially if the condition progresses and affects their health and well-being.
- Changes in Mood
- Difficulty Completing Everyday Task
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Disorientation To Time And Place
Did you ever notice yourself forgetting what day of the week it is, or losing your way back home? It happens to most of us however, people with dementia experience it worse. They can become lost in their own bedroom, not knowing how they got here and what were they searching for. Living with dementia can feel like you are a total wreck.
Withdrawal From Social Activities
A person with dementia may become disinterested in socializing with other people in home life and at work.
They may become withdrawn and not talk with others or pay attention when others are speaking to them. Additionally, they might stop participating in hobbies, sports, or activities with other people.
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Difficulty Finding The Right Words
Another early symptom of dementia is difficulty with communicating thoughts. A person with dementia may have a hard time explaining something or finding the right words to express themselves. They may also stop in the middle of a sentence and not know how to continue.
Having a conversation with a person who has dementia can be challenging, and it may take longer than usual for them to express their thoughts or feelings.
Is It Typical Aging Or Alzheimers Disease
The Alzheimers Association identifies 10 early signs and symptoms of Alzheimers disease and other dementias. 1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks
4. Confusion with time or place
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
8. Decreased or poor judgment
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities
10. Changes in mood and personality
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Memory Lapse Or Dementia 5 Clues To Help Tell The Difference
Uh-oh. You cant find your keys. You forgot the name of your newest neighboragain. And exactly where did you park your car at the mall, anyway?
An occasional memory slip is normal, says Johns Hopkins geriatrician Sevil Yasar, M.D., Ph.D. But as you age, these senior moments may leave you wondering whether youre heading for dementiathe loss of memory and thinking skills severe enough to interfere with independent living, often due to Alzheimers disease or other brain changes.
Stress, an extra-busy day, poor sleep and even some medications can interfere with making and recalling memories, Yasar says. And we all have moments when a name or the title of a movie is right on the tip of the tongue, but those events are different from the kinds of lapses that may be warning signs for dementia.
Most of the time, memory lapses are nothing to worry about. But any time youre concerned about yourself or a loved one, its worth talking with your doctor, Yasar says.
So how can you tell the difference between simple slipups and something that may be more serious? The important thing to look for is persistent change in our ability to think and function. Below are five clues.
Are You Losing Things And Just Cant Figure Out Where They Went
We all misplace things. And yes, on a busy morning we may even put the cornflakes box in the refrigerator if were moving too fast. Its normal to put things in the wrong spot, and its normal to catch the mistake or retrace our steps to find the keys sitting on top of todays stack of mail.
Whats not: Being unable to figure out where lost belongings might be, putting things in more and more unusual places and starting to suspectwithout evidencethat people have stolen your missing possessions.
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What Are The Most Common Symptoms Of Dementia
Five of the most common symptoms include:
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Struggling with decision-making and reasoning
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Difficulty understanding time and place, such as getting up to go to work in the middle of the night
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Struggling to communicate effectively, such as not being able to find the right words
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Repeating themselves often and finding it hard to follow a conversation
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Changes in personality and behaviour, mood swings and experiencing anxiety or depression
As these symptoms are similar to those associated with natural decline as a result of the encroachments of old age, dementia can prove difficult to diagnose.
One study, released by Alzheimers Society earlier this year, revealed that as many as one in four sufferers go at least two years before their condition is finally diagnosed.
The charity surveyed 1,019 dementia patients and their carers about their experiences of diagnostic procedure and found that the primary reason for people failing to get the help they needed was confusion between their symptoms and the natural ageing process, a situation occurring in 42 per cent of cases.
Approximately 26 per cent of respondents said they had not been formally diagnosed within two years, with a quarter adding that they had already reached crisis point before their dementia was acknowledged.
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Talking With A Doctor
After considering the persons symptoms and ordering screening tests, the doctor may offer a preliminary diagnosis or refer the person to a Cognitive Dementia and Memory Service clinic, neurologist, geriatrician or psychiatrist.Some people may be resistant to the idea of visiting a doctor. In some cases, people do not realise, or else they deny, that there is anything wrong with them. This can be due to the brain changes of dementia that interfere with the ability to recognise or appreciate the changes occurring. Others have an insight of the changes, but may be afraid of having their fears confirmed.One of the most effective ways to overcome this problem is to find another reason for a visit to the doctor. Perhaps suggest a check-up for a symptom that the person is willing to acknowledge, such as blood pressure, or suggest a review of a long-term condition or medication.Another way is to suggest that it is time for both of you to have a physical check-up. Any expressed anxiety by the person is an excellent opportunity to suggest a visit to the doctor. Be sure to provide a lot of reassurance. A calm, caring attitude at this time can help overcome the person’s very real worries and fears.Sometimes, your friend or family member may refuse to visit the doctor to ask about their symptoms. You can take a number of actions to get support including:
- talking with other carers who may have had to deal with similar situations
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Exercise For Your Brain
Your brain can grow stale and stagnant, especially as your age. Inspire your brain to newer levels with some of these brain-challenging activities. You dont need to try all of them at once, but find a couple to enjoy.
- Learn a new language-Try your hand at a new language to keep your brain stimulated. Try using an app to learn a new language. Many of them are free or not too expensive and do a good job of helping you learn.
- Learn to play an instrument-Pick up the instrument you played when you were young, or try your hand at a new instrument. Take a class or find some teaching videos online.
- Jigsaw puzzles-Your grandma knew what she was doing, leaving a jigsaw puzzle out all the time. Find an interesting puzzle and challenge your family to finish it.
- Card games-Cards games are fun and fast. Learn new games or try out the old faithful ones like Go Fish, War or Crazy Eights.
- Teach someone-Teaching stimulates your brain and helps it stay fresh.
- Break up your routines-Break out of your normal routine by trying a new route to work or use your left hand instead of your right to wash dishes. Changing up your routine can stimulate your brain.
- Tai chi-Martial arts help you gain strength and helps you find a sense of peace and calm, which lowers stress that can contribute to dementia.
Cognitive Changes For Dementia Patients
- Disorientation: A person with dementia becomes lost in familiar places, expresses confusion about the date or time of day, or has difficulty with directions.
- Memory loss: Failure to recognize people and faces, in later stages even family members or close loved ones. Dementia patients can also experience decreases in short term memory, such as asking the same questions repeatedly or forgetting recent events and conversations.
- Problems communicating: Loss of social skills and lack of interest in socializing, frequently forgetting words, or being unable to follow a conversation.
- Difficulty with complex tasks: Difficulty planning or organizing events, paying bills, following recipes, writing letters, or traveling to new locations.
- Difficulty staying focused and concentrating, decreased ability to learn and memorize new information.
- Problems with coordination: Decreased motor functions and coordination, sometimes manifested as trembling, shaking, or difficulty walking.
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Early Dementia Sign #: Unusual Changes In Personality
As a person begins to show early signs of dementia, they may start to experience the world differently. They may not feel like themselves, and as a result, they may begin acting differently.
One common change is that previously outgoing people can become more reserved, says Dr. Cleveland. They might even stop doing hobbies they once loved. Social withdrawal is especially common, probably because people with dementia have difficulty following conversations, she explains.
These changes are often subtle early in the disease. But you will probably be able to recognize them in a close loved one.
Warning Signs Someone Has Dementia
Can I remember exactly when I lost my husband? Was it the moment when I had to start tying his shoelaces for him? Or when we stopped being able to laugh with each other? Looking back, that turning point is impossible to pinpoint. But then, thats the nature of dementia. Judy Parfitt, English Actress.
Like most illnesses that severely affect cognitive functioning, dementia is a tragic, gut-wrenching condition. In this article, were going to discuss what dementia is , some warning signs of the condition, and treatment methods.
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Who Is At Risk Of Getting Dementia
These things increase your chances of getting some dementia.
- Your age-This is the biggest risk of dementia is aging.
- High blood pressure-An elevated blood pressure is bad for your cognitive function. It can damage your blood vessels and cause atherosclerosis.
- Stroke-A stroke damages your vascular system. Once youve had a stroke, theres an increased chance that youll have another one.
- Alcohol-Drinking high amounts of alcohol increase your chances of getting dementia.
- High cholesterol- Too much fat or cholesterol in your arteries causes thickening of your arteries walls so the blood cant properly flow to your brain and heart. This raises your chances of vascular dementia.
- Diabetes-People who have diabetes are at a higher risk of getting dementia. Diabetes puts you at risk for stroke or heart disease, both of which can lead to vascular disease.
- Downs syndrome: This syndrome with down syndrome is more apt to get Alzheimers disease often in their middle age.
- Genes- The chance of getting dementia increases if more than one family member has dementia.
- Head injury-Getting a traumatic head injury makes you more susceptible to getting dementia.
- Parkinsons disease-Parkinsons disease causes degeneration of nerve cells, leading to dementia and memory loss.
- Smoking-Smoking narrows your blood vessels, preventing proper blood flow to your brain or heart.
What Behavior Changes To Look For
Below we look at five behavior changes to look for in a person to give you a better indication of whether the person should go to visit their GP with the suspicions they may be suffering from the early stages of dementia.
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Surprising Signs Of Dementia
Walker Methodist | Aug 8, 2019
Dementia is a disease that typically affects those over the age of 65, but it can appear earlier. Some mistakenly believe cognitive decline is a normal part of aging when, in fact, only a small percentage of the older population will experience it. Still, it can be all too easy to start looking for signs.
There are some early indicators that dementia may be in your loved ones future, but they may not be what you think. We all know that excessive forgetfulness and confusion are warning signs, but some others may surprise you.
Schedule An Appointment With Your Doctor
If you see signs of cognitive decline, the first thing you should do is check in with your provider, says Dr. Cleveland. In some cases, the problem might not be what it seems. There are medical problems that masquerade as dementia that need to be ruled out, such as hypothyroidism and obstructive sleep apnea, Dr. Cleveland explains.
Many medications can also have dementia-like side effects, she says. Your doctor will be able to help you find solutions. And mental health conditions such as depression can also sometimes seem like dementia.
You want to either rule out cognitive decline or spot it early. If you have Medicare, your cognitive exam will be covered as part of your annual wellness visit. Just be sure you tell your doctor you want one. A study from the journal Health Affairs found that fewer than one-third of patients received a formal cognitive assessment.
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How To Tell If Your Memory Loss Is Normal Or A Sign Of Alzheimers
The term senior moment was aptly coined because the truth is we get forgetful as we age. This is a completely normal part of being an aging human, and shouldnt be an immediate cause for concern. Unless memory loss is extreme or persistent, it is not considered a sign of Alzheimers.
Its important to remember that memory loss can be caused by numerous situations and diseases. Even if you arent concerned its dementia, it could be worth chatting with a doctor to see if your memory loss is a symptom of something treatable.
Common causes of memory loss in seniors include:
- Aging change of hormone levels, physical deterioration, decreased blood flow
- Medication side effects
- Nutritional deficiency
If youve ruled out the above but cant shake the feeling your memory loss is more serious than simple aging, keep reading. Weve compiled 5 of the most common signs of dementia. Hopefully, this list will put you at ease, but if the more severe examples sound like you or a loved one, it is a good idea to meet with a doctor for a proper diagnosis.
Potential Warning Signs of Dementia:
1) Memory loss that impedes function in daily life
Short term memory loss, misplacing objects, and struggling to complete everyday tasks can all be signs of dementia.
Aging seniors sometimes find themselves forgetting the name of a person they just met, losing their keys, or fumbling with their internet browser because theyve forgotten how it works.
2) Increase in poor decision-making