How To Find Out If You Have Dementia

Isnt Dementia Part Of Normal Aging

No, many older adults live their entire lives without developing dementia. Normal aging may include weakening muscles and bones, stiffening of arteries and vessels, and some age-related memory changes that may show as:

• Occasionally misplacing car keys
• Struggling to find a word but remembering it later
• Forgetting the name of an acquaintance
• Forgetting the most recent events

Normally, knowledge and experiences built over years, old memories, and language would stay intact.

Understanding A Dementia Diagnosis

A Dementia diagnosis may take a long time to confirm. Healthcare providers want to ensure the diagnosis is accurate, so they may ask for additional tests and screenings.

This is because no specific test can give you a dementia diagnosis.

An official diagnosis will be provided, after your doctor has multiple test results, medical history, and the evidence they need to confirm that you are living with Dementia.

How To Say It

If the dementia diagnosis is discussed with your loved one, here are some things to keep in mind:

Explaining of The Condition And its Symptoms

If the person wants to learn more about their diagnosis, I think its important to be honest about the brain changes that are happening as a result of a dementia diagnosis.

Describe the symptoms that a person with dementia is likely to face and the potential course the disease may take.

Acquiring knowledge about dementia can help members of a persons family and social circle feel more at ease around that person, and better prepare them for the future.

Sharing of Available Resources

Give out educational material produced by groups like the Alzheimers Association. Make sure that your loved ones and close friends are aware of any local groups of support that may be available.

Asking For Assistance

Informing your loved ones and friends about the various ways in which they might lend a hand is quite important. Describe how the persons maintained abilities and skills can benefit from their participation in social activities.

Its important to understand the persons current abilities, so then the proper assistance & support systems can be put into place. For example, if the person is in the earlier stages of dementia & requires assistance with medication management, its important to find someone to help assist with this.

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If She Is Lonely And Depressed Engage Her With People Her Age

Studies document the wide-ranging effects of loneliness on the elderly. Loneliness in old age leads to mental and physical health problems. Having said that, no child can take on the full responsibility of constant care for their elderly parents.

Research also shows that older people make friends with people their age. Are there any community activities designed for older people in her neighbourhood? Does she have elderly neighbours that she can get together with?

Persons involved with a positive relationship tend to be less affected by everyday problems and to have a greater sense of control and independence. Those without relationships often become isolated, ignored, and depressed. Those caught in poor relationships tend to develop and maintain negative perceptions of self, find life less satisfying, and often lack the motivation to change. Hanson & Carpenter, 1994.

Where I live, several widows take turns making Sunday lunch for one another. Is there social care available that offers supervised trips away or days out? Some communities have a club for seniors where the elderly can come along and have tea and a chat.

One sign of loneliness is a lack of motivation, so it may well be up to you to find these activities and encourage your elderly mother to participate.

Why Knowing The Signs Is Important

For over two years, my husband and I struggled with the increasingly difficult behavior of his parents Only after a traumatic emotional breakdown and the hospitalization of his mother did we finally learn that they both were suffering from dementia caused by Alzheimer’s. We wished we had gotten help earlier.

Unfortunately, our story is not uncommon. Most people with dementia are not diagnosed until there is some sort of accident or hospitalization. By recognizing the early signs of dementia, you can often get better treatment.

• About 30% of dementia is not Alzheimer’s and may even be something that can be prevented and cured.
• Alzheimer’s dementia can’t be cured, but early detection allows for treatment to perhaps delay the disease and to plan for the future.

Is It Dementia?

Have you noticed your parent or spouse forgetting things? Perhaps they’ve gotten lost on the way home from the store, or maybe they’ve asked the same question several times. What is the difference between normal forgetfulness and dementia? This article explains how to tell.

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Why Canadians Are Some Of The Healthiest People In The World

I speak from experience. Once we were able to get my in-laws treated with proper medical supervision, their lives and ours improved immensely. In another situation, my mother’s apparent memory loss turned out to be a hearing problem. With hearing aids, her “dementia” completely disappeared.

Do you have a question about dementia, or would you like to share an experience that could help others? Please share in the comments below.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the authorâs knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.

Choose A Quiet And A Relaxed Setting To Talk

Pick an environment that is calm and has minimal interruptions. For example, anxiety and confusion are both symptoms that can be brought on by distractions such as unnecessary noises, music, and conversation.

You can avoid having to yell by going somewhere where there is less background noise. Speak in a manner that is soothing, slow, and unmistakable. Give the person you care about the opportunity to process what you are telling them by pausing between statements.

Everyone has a unique method of communication. If you know the other person well, you may be able to figure out what will be most beneficial for them.

You could also consider practicing what you intend to say beforehand so that everything goes more smoothly.

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How Is Dementia Treated

Treatment of dementia depends on the underlying cause. Neurodegenerative dementias, like Alzheimers disease, have no cure, though there are medications that can help protect the brain or manage symptoms such as anxiety or behavior changes. Research to develop more treatment options is ongoing.

Leading a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, healthy eating, and maintaining social contacts, decreases chances of developing chronic diseases and may reduce number of people with dementia.

Tip : Plan For The Future

While its not easy to think about, getting your finances in order and figuring out how you want your healthcare handled can give you a sense of power over your future. Talk with your loved ones and communicate your wishes. Discuss and document treatment and end-of-life preferences with your doctors and family members. Appoint someone you trust to make decisions for you when you can no longer make them for yourself.

Although these conversations may be difficult, making your wishes known can also be empowering. And by making important decisions early, youll avoid future medical, financial, and legal confusion.

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Family Caregivers Find Support On #dementia Tiktok

Jacquelyn Revere moved back home at 29 to care for her mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease. She spent six years as a caregiver and shared her experiences on TikTok, building a large following on her channel, “Mom of My Mom.”

It all changed on a Saturday night in New York City in 2016. Jacquelyn Revere was 29 and headed out to attend a friends comedy show. She was on the subway when her phone rang. It was a friend of her moms, back in Los Angeles. Thats weird, Revere thought. She never calls.

And while I was on the subway, my moms friend said, Something is wrong with your mom, Revere said. We dont know whats going on, but your mom got lost driving home. What should have been a 15-minute drive ended up taking two hours.

Revere flew to L.A. At her moms home in Inglewood, she found foreclosure notices, untreated termite damage on the porch, and expired food in the kitchen. Her mother, Lynn Hindmon, was a devout evangelical who worked for her church. A slim, regal self-declared health nut, Hindmon was now forgetting to pay bills and couldnt remember whom she was talking to on the phone.

It would take nearly a year to get the diagnosis that confirmed what Revere already suspected: Her mother still in her 50s had Alzheimers disease. Barely 10 years since Revere left home, she found herself moving back in to become a full-time caregiver for her mom and her grandmother, diagnosed with Alzheimers years earlier.

Daughters Are Often Dementia Caregivers

Know The Benefits Of Early Diagnosis

It is essential to understand the benefits of an Early diagnosis when living with Dementia. Understanding the benefits may help you see your doctor begin learning how to cope and live with this diagnosis. These benefits include:

• Your doctor will diagnose you with an accurate Dementia Diagnosis based on symptoms and testing.
• Become actively involved in future healthcare and personal decisions.
• Get more effective treatments.
• Focus on what is most important in your life.
• Make choices for your future, including legal and financial matters.
• Use and understand resources that are available to you.
• It gives your family time to understand the challenges and the progression of such challenges.
• You can raise awareness of Dementia while you still can.

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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.

Changes In Behaviour Judgement And Moods

Becoming quiet, withdrawn or restless or frustrated or angry can be early signs of dementia. Someone may develop repetitive behaviour for example, they ask the same question over and over again, do the same thing repeatedly or make multiple phone calls to the same person. They may become insecure and anxious or start hiding and losing items. They may withdraw from social activities or give up hobbies and interests they have enjoyed.

They may show poor judgement, for example putting summer clothes on in cold winter months, not knowing when a kettle is full or overfilling cups when making cold and hot drinks, putting a kettle on the hob or leaving a cooker on or tap running. Someone with dementia may become very emotional and experience rapid mood swings or become quieter and less emotional than usual.

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What Is Dementia Symptoms Types And Diagnosis

On this page:

• Who can diagnose dementia?

Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning thinking, remembering, and reasoning to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. Some people with dementia cannot control their emotions, and their personalities may change. Dementia ranges in severity from the mildest stage, when it is just beginning to affect a person’s functioning, to the most severe stage, when the person must depend completely on others for basic activities of living.

Dementia is more common as people grow older but it is not a normal part of aging. Many people live into their 90s and beyond without any signs of dementia.

There are several different forms of dementia, including Alzheimers disease. A persons symptoms can vary depending on the type.

Symptoms In The Later Stages Of Dementia

As dementia progresses, memory loss and difficulties with communication often become severe. In the later stages, the person is likely to neglect their own health, and require constant care and attention.

The most common symptoms of advanced dementia include:

• memory problems people may not recognise close family and friends, or remember where they live or where they are
• communication problems some people may eventually lose the ability to speak altogether. Using non-verbal means of communication, such as facial expressions, touch and gestures, can help
• mobility problems many people become less able to move about unaided. Some may eventually become unable to walk and require a wheelchair or be confined to bed
• behavioural problems a significant number of people will develop what are known as “behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia”. These may include increased agitation, depressive symptoms, anxiety, wandering, aggression, or sometimes hallucinations
• bladder incontinence is common in the later stages of dementia, and some people will also experience bowel incontinence
• appetite and weight loss problems are both common in advanced dementia. Many people have trouble eating or swallowing, and this can lead to choking, chest infections and other problems. Alzheimer’s Society has a useful factsheet on eating and drinking

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What Are The Symptoms Of Early

For most people with early-onset Alzheimer disease, the symptoms closely mirror those of other forms of Alzheimer disease.

Early symptoms:

• Withdrawal from work and social situations

• Changes in mood and personality

Later symptoms:

• Severe mood swings and behavior changes

• Deepening confusion about time, place, and life events

• Suspicions about friends, family, or caregivers

• Trouble speaking, swallowing, or walking

• Severe memory loss

Tips For Talking With Your Doctor About Dementia

Your doctor can help answer the questions that you have about Dementia. You may want to know some helpful tips and things to expect.

Before your appointment

• Ask a family member or close friend to go to your appointment with you. They will help you remember the questions you want to ask and what the doctor tells you during the appointment. They can also share with the doctor things they have observed. Most of all, they can serve as emotional support for you if you need them during your appointment and after.
• Choose the best time of day for you. You will want to make an appointment at a time when you feel well-rested and alert.
• Write down any symptoms that you are experiencing that are giving you trouble.
• Write down any questions that you have for your doctor.

What to Bring with you to your appointment

You will want to be sure to bring the following information to your appointment.

• List of symptoms. Include when you or your loved ones first noticed them. Note if they have worsened over time or improved.
• Any medications or supplements that you are currently taking. This includes vitamins and over-the-counter medications.
• Personal and family medical history.
• List any questions that you may have.

During Your Appointment

While at the doctor, you will want to keep these questions in mind.

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How Is Dementia Diagnosed

To diagnose dementia, doctors first assess whether a person has an underlying, potentially treatable, condition that may relate to cognitive difficulties. A physical exam to measure blood pressure and other vital signs, as well as laboratory tests of blood and other fluids to check levels of various chemicals, hormones, and vitamins, can help uncover or rule out possible causes of symptoms.

A review of a persons medical and family history can provide important clues about risk for dementia. Typical questions might include asking about whether dementia runs in the family, how and when symptoms began, changes in behavior and personality, and if the person is taking certain medications that might cause or worsen symptoms.

The following procedures also may be used to diagnose dementia:

Early detection of symptoms is important, as some causes can be treated. However, in many cases, the cause of dementia is unknown and cannot be treated. Still, obtaining an early diagnosis can help with managing the condition and planning ahead.

She Could Be Manipulating You Stick To Your Boundaries

Of course, some elderly mothers demand your constant attention as a form of manipulation. In this case, your best option is to get on with your life, set firm boundaries, and take no nonsense.

Dont be guilt-tripped into spending time with your elderly mother. Ignore any gaslighting techniques such as playing siblings against each other. Your elderly mother will know what buttons to press to gain sympathy and attention.

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Early Symptoms Of Dementia

Although the early signs vary, common early symptoms of dementia include:

• memory problems, particularly remembering recent events
• increasing confusion
• apathy and withdrawal or depression
• loss of ability to do everyday tasks.

Sometimes, people fail to recognise that these symptoms indicate that something is wrong. They may mistakenly assume that such behaviour is a normal part of the ageing process. Symptoms may also develop gradually and go unnoticed for a long time. Also, some people may refuse to act, even when they know something is wrong.