Warning Signs of Dementia courtesy of Visiting Angels in SENIOR Magazine
Warning Signs of Dementia courtesy of Visiting Angels in SENIOR Magazine
Collin SENIOR Magazine
Warning Signs of Dementia
Article courtesy of: Visiting Angels
Families should be aware of the warning signs of dementia, including memory loss and personality changes, in order to provide proper care for elderly loved ones. Visiting Angels provides living assistance services in the individual’s and families’ homes, and can assist with loved ones with dementia.
The onset of the psychiatric and cognitive symptoms of dementia can vary depending on what is causing it, and the location and number of damaged brain cells. Some types of dementia progress slowly, while others cause a sudden onset of symptoms. Warning signs can and should be carefully observed. With aging adults, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, but it can also be caused by a blockage of blood supply to the brain, sustained use of alcohol, head trauma, as well as various other causes including liver disease.
Dementia refers to a group of symptoms caused by the damage or death of the brain’s nerve cells. Warning signs can include when an individual has trouble with new memories, relies on memory helpers, has trouble finding words, and/or struggles with completing familiar actions. There can be confusion about time, place, or people, and the misplacement of familiar objects. Depression, irritability, and even personality changes can be seen in a person with the onset of dementia. The loss of interest in important responsibilities may be a warning sign, as well as bad decision making. Other psychiatric symptoms which are warning signs are seeing or hearing things, or expressing false beliefs. An individual is likely to need elder care services if they are exhibiting these warning signs in order for them to be safe.
Warning signs and symptoms should be observed closely in order to communicate well with physicians for proper diagnosis and treatment. A patient should be seen by a doctor who is an expert in dementia, and should have complete medical tests as well as neuropsychological tests.
Visiting Angels provides non-medical home care services and its staff is trained and qualified to care for individuals with dementia. This allows for the individual to remain in the safe and familiar surroundings of their own homes while still receiving the care and attention needed to deal with the symptoms and complications associated with dementia. In addition, Visiting Angels caregivers provide invaluable observation and feedback that is extremely useful for ongoing diagnosis and treatment.
For more information on Visiting Angels, please contact one of their two offices serving Collin County. In Plano, Allen, McKinney, Frisco and surrounding communities phone 214-491-1999. For Prosper, Celina, Little Elm, Denton and surrounding communities, call 940-565-0575
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August 29, 2011 at 6:06 am | debbie sauder franzen
thanks so much for this article..for those of us caring for..and caring about…loved ones with alzheimer’s, articles like this offer helpful insights and information..and each individual is different so what is happening with my mom may not be happening with someone else’s dad..but learning what we can and then sharing that with others allows insight for all…as i step back, i recall my mom, who always remembered special occasions, forgetting my daughter’s birthday about five years ago..then there was name-finding difficulty (which is something than many of us do..i’ve called my kids by the dog’s name more than once!)…but last week, my mom could not remember any of the grandkids’ names and called my son a name that was not in our family…i needed to step back and review the past few years to recognize that this was an important marker of decline..it helps me to keep a small notebook and enter these observations with a date…i’m so grateful for sites and articles that help us help those we love. thank you….debbie
August 29, 2011 at 6:57 pm | LIVING WELL Magazine
Hi Debbie,
Thank you for sharing your experiences with this dreadful disease. Alzheimer’s, unfortunately, hurts more than those suffering from it. It affects family and loved ones, too.