Some Lesser Known Symptoms Of Dementia

 Dementia is the term given to a group of diseases that affect an individual’s cognitive functioning, including their ability to think, remember, and reason, to perform everyday tasks. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is commonly thought of as an older person’s disease, but it can affect people of all ages. The early symptoms of dementia tends to vary between people, forgetfulness being a symptom that most people are familiar with, confusion being the other most talked about symptom.

A person with dementia, initially, may not even notice a problem, since everybody forgets things from time to time or in finding the right word for familiar things, especially as one grows old. According to the National Institute on Aging, half of people over the age of 85 may have some form of dementia. This in no way means dementia is a natural part of the aging process. Dementia is one of main reasons behind older adults losing their independence. The key is early diagnosis of the condition, which can assist you in getting help and accessing quick treatment for your loved one (that can help slow down the disease). For early diagnosis, one has to be aware of the signs of early dementia.

If you feel your loved one needs assistance, make sure to choose a Coronavirus-conscious senior living in Anthem provider.

This blog seeks to discuss some of the lesser known symptoms of dementia:

Issues with money- Senior people are more vulnerable to scams than others. Do not overlook if they have fallen victim to any such scam, as it could be a warning sign of dementia. Look out for signs, including poor judgment, loaning money to strangers, making unreasonable purchases (buying stuff they cannot afford), failing to pay their bills, etc.

Change in disposition- A sudden change in disposition might be a sign of dementia. For example, if your always cheerful father has become irritable or quickly getting angry, it’s something that needs to be brought to the notice of his doctor. He/she will be able to tell whether it is some sort of emotional struggle, or are the early signs of dementia.

Difficulty writing- A person may find it tough to write, be it an email or a grocery list. Do not overlook it as it may be a warning sign, since short-term memory loss interferes with organizing thoughts and getting them down on paper.

Social withdrawal- A person may start to self-isolate as he/she comes to realize that something is amiss, largely due to fear or embarrassment (of others coming to know about their condition). He or she may be unwilling to leave their house, may stop attending events, put off seeing friends, etc.

It’s advised that you do not diagnose someone yourself, since a lot of different conditions, such as stroke, mental health conditions, medicines, stress, nutritional disorders, etc. can all cause similar symptoms to dementia. You just need to encourage your loved one to see their doctor to find out exactly what’s going on. To lend a helping hand, book their appointment, or better yet, attend their appointment with them. You can be of help in taking notes during the appointment and prompting them to ask questions they haven’t remembered.

If you feel your older adult needs assistance in going about their everyday tasks, get in touch with any leading Anthem assisted living facility, where your loved one can expect to receive round-the-clock care and support in the hands of well-trained caregivers.

Call Anthem Seniors at 602.909.9550.