Warning Signs that Could Indicate Dementia

Dementia is not a single disease, but rather a collection of symptoms. These symptoms include decline in memory, thinking, and communication that impact daily living. Contrary to what some people believe, this is not a normal part of aging, and not all memory problems are the result of dementia. However, recognizing warning signs can help you to be more proactive in your senior’s health and seek necessary care. Here are some signs to be aware of:

Confused by the time and place. Those with dementia often have trouble recalling the day of the week, date, or time. They may not remember where they are or how they got there. In addition, they may not be aware of how much time has passed.

Trouble completing tasks. Problems with memory and thinking can make it more difficult to complete daily tasks. Usually the struggle appears first with more complex activities that require more planning or problem solving. It may take them much longer to do things or they may need multiple reminders or prompts. Following recipes or balancing their checkbook can become more difficult and they may make multiple errors.

Word finding difficulties. You may notice that your loved one has trouble coming up with familiar words for different items or does not use the correct word. Or they may lose their place in the middle of a conversation or repeat the same thing over again. Dementia can also make it more difficult to follow along in a conversation or story and recall what is happening.

Leaving things in unusual places. Have you found their glasses in the cabinet or the remote in the refrigerator? Trouble with memory can lead to misplacing items and having trouble retracing steps to find them. Your loved one may even accuse others of stealing if they are unable to find things.

Changing mood or personality. Dementia can affect judgment and behavior. The person may become more easily agitated or confused. They may withdraw from activities or act out of character. Confusion may lead them to become anxious or fearful of going out or engaging in different activities.

Short term memory problems. Memory loss often begins with trouble remembering things in the short term – what they ate for lunch or why they went to a certain place. They may have little trouble remembering things from years past, but difficulty recalling the past few days.

While not all memory, thinking, or communication problems are indicative of dementia, they are worth paying attention to. If you notice several signs or that your loved one seems to be struggling more than usual, it may be time to seek help. Early detection can help you to better support your loved one and take preventive or precautionary measures.

The Importance of Home Care for Those With Dementia

Dealing with dementia can be tough on a family. It’s heartbreaking to watch an elderly loved one struggle to accomplish tasks that they once completed easily. Additionally, it can also put a serious strain on the caretaker, who is probably busy with work, children, and other commitments. When it comes to senior care, the professionals of Always Best Care Asheville-Hendersonville explain that hiring someone to assist your loved one is often the best way to ensure that they enjoy a high quality of life.

It’s simply not possible for you to attend to your elderly loved one’s needs on a daily basis, while also caring for your children, working, and maintaining a relationship with your spouse. For this reason, seeking assistance from an eldercare professional will become essential. Even if this person only stops by a few days each week, their help takes a serious burden off of family members, and ensures that the senior has everything they need to live well.

How home care can help

Despite their struggles with dementia, it’s likely that your elderly loved one will still crave their independence. To satisfy your senior without putting their health or safety at risk, home care is a must. Your elderly loved one gets to stay in their own space, but doesn’t have to worry about going grocery shopping, remembering to take their medication, or cleaning up the house. 

Studies show that a technique known as “graded assistance” can be highly beneficial for seniors with dementia. Graded assistance is essentially a way to help an elderly individual accomplish a task with the least amount of aid possible. Home care professionals rely on verbal prompts, physical guidance, and partial physical assistance in order to help the senior function without feeling as if they are helpless. If your senior is particularly resistant to the idea of home care or help in general, this approach may be ideal. 

Other effective care strategies for seniors with dementia

Music is also a powerful tool to soothe seniors who are facing dementia. It is common for elderly individuals with dementia to lash out and display aggressive behavior. Studies show that music can help to soothe these undesirable behaviors, while also helping your elderly loved one to relax. If your senior is particularly passionate about a type of music, play a few songs for them when they begin to become irritable or agitated.

While it’s never easy to watch a loved one deal with the effects of dementia, proper home care and an understanding of the condition allow you to do your part to keep your elderly loved one well cared for. 

Nine Foods to Help Prevent Dementia

A new report from the Alzheimer’s Association says that one out of three seniors die with Alzheimer’s, although that is not necessarily the cause of death. While research is still ongoing about how to stave off Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, some research suggests that certain foods may help protect against mental decline and even prevent brain-wasting diseases. Alzheimer’s is identified with inflammation, so the thinking is that foods with anti-inflammatory properties may be able to delay age-related cognitive disorders. Nine commonly available foods could help prevent mental deterioration, and they even taste good.

1. Dark chocolate. Studies show that the flavonoids in cocoa increase blood flow to the brain and may help to protect against conditions that reduce cerebral blood flow, such as dementia and stroke.
2. Red wine. Drinking wine in moderation can protect cognitive function and decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. This is due to the high levels of flavonoids and possibly other polyphenolics such as resveratrol in red wine.
3. Clams. It’s thought that when vitamin B12 levels are low, blood levels of homocysteine will raise, significantly increasing the risk for dementia, heart attack and other ailments. Clams contain 98.9 micrograms of vitamin B12 in just a 100-gram serving, or 1,648 percent of the recommended dietary allowance.
4. Asparagus. One study found that individuals who were deficient in folate, a form of vitamin B9, were 3.5 times more likely to develop dementia. One cup of asparagus will take care of nearly 66 percent of your daily folate needs.
5. Wild salmon. According to one study, an average of three servings of oily fish a week adds up to an almost 50 percent lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The reason is the omega-3 fatty acid and other nutrients such as vitamin D and B12 can help to prevent neurodegenerative disorders.
6. Walnuts. In moderation, walnuts were found to help improve motor and cognitive skills in older rodents, due, it is believed, to a combination of polyphenols, omega-3 fats and other bioactive substances.
7. Cherries. The antioxidant compounds, anthocyanins, which give cherries their bright red color, possess anti-inflammatory properties that could work like pain medications but without the nasty side effects.
8. Turmeric. A study found that curcumin in turmeric, commonly used in curry dishes, removes plaques from the brain. Plaques are thought to contribute to the degradation of brain cells and lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
9. Apples. The skins of apples contain quercetin, found to protect the brain from damages associated with Alzheimer’s disease, in studies conducted by Cornell University.

Adapted from the Conscious Life.