A Caregiver Checklist for Early Signs of Dementia
Is dementia a normal part of aging? While it is more common with advanced age, dementia is not normal age-related memory loss, but a progressive loss of cognitive function. It is regrettably incurable, but it can be prevented, delayed, or slowed if noticed early and addressed with medical intervention and lifestyle changes.
8 Dementia Symptoms to Look For
Dementia is a cluster of cognitive decline symptoms that affect memory, speech, executive functioning, and relating to others. For early detection, look for these symptoms of dementia:
Abnormal memory loss.
It is not uncommon for people to forget the name of someone they just met or someone they worked with a decade ago, but it is worth noting if they forget the names of family members, important dates, or repeatedly forget appointments or social plans. This is especially true if the forgetfulness is new and different from how they were before. Another warning sign: asking the same question over and over.
Trouble with usual routines and tasks.
A warning sign of dementia is absentmindedness when remembering how to complete a task they have done many times. They might forget a recipe they have made hundreds of times or a route they have walked or driven for years.
Time, place, or spatial confusion.
A sign of cognitive decline in seniors is losing track of what month or year it is. They might also show confusion of where they are, as well as how and when they arrived there. While vision is sometimes responsible, they might also have more trouble judging distances, which leads to accidents walking, sitting down, or driving.
Misplacing items in odd places.
While many people might lose their keys or glasses on a regular basis, this memory-related symptom is a new or worsening misplacement of items where the senior cannot find a way to retrace their steps. The lack of insight as to where items could be can lead to great frustration. They or a relative might eventually find their keys in the fridge or their glasses in the mailbox.
Difficulty with executive function, decision-making, and problem-solving.
Dementia impacts one’s ability to concentrate and follow a logical sequence of steps. This can lead to trouble problem solving and organizing oneself. It is not unusual to see this change affect math calculations, including when paying with cash at a store. Reasoning is also impacted, leading to decisions that make little sense to others.
Reduced self-awareness.
Behavioral changes in dementia extend to reduced grooming, such as showering, brushing teeth, and clipping fingernails, due to lessening self-awareness. The senior with dementia might not realize their sweater is unraveling or that they are wearing different shoes on their feet. The house may become markedly messier than it used to be, with trash piling up but little or no awareness of it.
Problems with language.
A dementia red flag is loss of language skills, where the individual forgets what they were saying, repeats themselves a lot, or cannot follow what someone else is saying. They forget common words, sometimes substituting a made-up word.
Changes in personality and withdrawal from others.
Because of confusion and a reduced ability to follow conversations, individuals with dementia can become suspicious, anxious, frustrated, and alienated. This depresses their mood and can lead to tears or outbursts. This often leads to withdrawal from social activities and friends.
Other signs to watch out for are difficulty sleeping, hearing loss (which often happens alongside cognitive decline), vision loss and diagnoses like cataracts, mental health struggles, and frequent irritability.
Types of Dementia
There are four main types of dementia affecting seniors.
- Alzheimer’s Disease is a degenerative condition familiar to many. While there is no one known cause, it is thought to be the result of lifestyle and genetic factors.
- Vascular dementia is dementia brought on by blood flow disruption. The most common cause is a stroke.
- Lewy body dementia (LBD) occurs when a protein called alpha-synuclein builds up in parts of the brain governing reasoning, memory, and movement. While not the same diagnosis, Parkinson’s Disease carries the same feature. LBD also affects sleep and can feature the symptom of visual hallucinations.
- Frontotemporal dementia comes from neural degeneration in the the frontal and temporal regions of the brain. It is rare and affects more younger individuals than other types of dementia.
Cognitive decline may also be present with other conditions or as a side effect of treatment, which is why diagnosis is key.
Dementia Diagnosis
Diagnosis of dementia includes a questionnaire about symptoms—including a memory test—and often a physical exam. It may also include medical imaging and blood or spinal fluid tests. Annual visits with a trusted physician—preferably a geriatrician or other expert in older patients—can help catch dementia early.
Dementia can be scary for both the individual who may have it and their loved ones. It can be hard to push through the fear to assess whether symptoms are present, and whether it is time to seek medical attention. Keep in mind that the best thing for a dementia diagnosis is early detection, and there is hope in interventions prescribed by your physician.
Families caring for someone with dementia might consider home-based care through a virtual nurse service or an in-home caregiver. (Also see our article on talking to your parent about starting or increasing care.) Whatever the stage of its development, dementia can be addressed, your family can be resourced, and your loved one can be safe and supported.
If your loved one needs home care, our VetAssist mission is to make home care easily and quickly accessible for those who qualify through the VA Pension with Aid and Attendance benefit. Veterans Home Care can help you determine whether you or your loved one will be eligible to receive the benefit, which can cover some or all of the cost of home care, and we make it easy to apply. Chat with us via our website, or call us at (888) 314-6075.
