On a recent visit with your mother, you notice that she is becoming more and more forgetful. She leaves the stove on or forgets to lock the door when she leaves the house; perhaps she is able to cook her favorite recipe from memory but cannot remember her phone number. Is it time to worry?
Of course, finding out that a loved one is being afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is scary, and perhaps a little sad. But as the saying goes: “Forewarned is forearmed.” The more information you have, the better you can help your loved one cope with their new and changing reality.
What is the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia?
Dementia is a broad term to describe the general grouping of symptoms that include memory loss, cognitive difficulties, executive functioning problems and even language issues. It isn’t a disease in and of itself, but rather a syndrome.
Essentially, dementia is diagnosed when brain cells are damaged and certain symptoms occur at the same time. Alzheimer’s disease destroys parts of the brain and is therefore considered to be a disease that causes dementia.
There are other diseases that cause dementia, such as having had multiple strokes and resulting vascular issues, Parkinson’s, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, but a large percentage of people deemed to have dementia have Alzheimer’s disease.
“Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 50 percent to 70 percent of all dementia.” (Source)
5 signs that your loved one might have Alzheimer’s and dementia
Memory loss — This relates particularly to permanent memory loss. We all have moments when we forget a phone number and then remember it hours later. Jokingly referred to as a ‘senior moment’, it’s an affliction that happens at any age and stage. True memory loss that impairs day to day functioning is a different thing altogether and can be characterized as:
- Forgetting information very recently learned or acquired.
- Asking for the same information repeatedly.
- Requiring memory aids for even very important dates and events.
In addition to forgetting recently acquired information, people with Alzheimer’s will often understand the ‘here and now’ but not a more general sense of time. So the fact that it is winter is clear but the fact that spring will soon follow eludes them.
Executive functioning issues, including problem solving — Your parent suddenly finds it difficult to follow a recipe or perhaps to deal with a discrepancy in their personal financial records. Even familiar tasks can be difficult, like playing their favorite card game. This function issue can also lead to poor decision making, resulting in scenarios where they give away large of sums of money, for example.
Misplacing items and even places — If your mother is suddenly putting food in the wrong place in the kitchen (like placing the milk carton in the cupboard) or your father is unable to find the corner store where he usually buys his newspaper, or retrace his steps once he’s arrived there. In the early days of the disease, they will often realize when something is wrong and this can bring up another key sign: changes to their personality.
Difficulties with speech — Keeping up a conversation becomes more difficult as a person with Alzheimer’s begins to find it hard to remember vocabulary, or even referring to things by the wrong term. For example, they might refer to nostrils as nose holes, or a watch as a hand clock. Repeating themselves as they speak over and over again is another sign to watch for, such as starting a story and stopping, forgetting where they were and repeating the first part again.
Personality and mood changes — A person who is suddenly not finding things where they ought to be, or unable to pull together an idea that would have been easy in the past might be able to hide these deficiencies for a while, but eventually frustration leads to anxiety and confusion. In the case of lost items, it can even lead to a person accusing others of stealing, when in fact they are the ones who moved the item in question. As a result of these changes, some people with Alzheimer’s, even in the early stages, will withdraw from their social circles. This unfortunately exacerbates the problem in many ways, as they can become depressed.
If you suspect your loved one may have Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, it’s important to have them seen by a doctor as soon as possible. Early diagnosis will give you, and them, the power to make decisions that will benefit them in the long run, including treatments and whether home care is an option, to ensure their safety and that of others. Having support in the home to accomplish tasks and continue to live independently for as long as possible is a quality of life issue that can never be ignored.
If you or an aging loved one are considering in-home senior care in Atlanta, please call the compassionate, caring staff at Mothers Helping Hands Home Care. Call Today! 470-260-4137