As your elderly loved one ages, his or her cognitive abilities may begin to decrease. However, knowing the signs associated with age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s could help your loved one get treatment and slow the progression of the disease. Here are some of the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s.
1. Memory Loss
Memory loss doesn’t include forgetting someone’s name and instantly correcting the issue. When pertaining to Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss occurs when someone forgets information he or she just learned. If you have to ask the same questions repeatedly, take your loved one to the doctor immediately. Your parent could be in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. To slow the progression of memory loss, keep your loved one’s mind stimulated through daily activities and games, and make sure he or she eats healthy brain-boosting foods.
Seniors with early-stage Alzheimer’s may need help performing daily tasks around the house. Homecare services professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers.
2. Difficulty Managing Daily Activities
When your loved one is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, even the most familiar tasks could become challenging to perform. This includes driving to places he or she frequents on a daily or weekly basis. If your loved one forgets the rules to his or her favorite game or can’t complete a simple task when working or volunteering, this could be a warning sign of Alzheimer’s.
To boost your parent’s cognitive health, minimize the daily tasks he or she finds challenging. For example, hire an in-home caregiver to help with chores around the home, meal prep, and running errands.
Many seniors prefer aging in place over moving to assisted living facilities. If your senior loved one needs assistance to remain safe and comfortable while living at home, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading Carmichael elder care agency. Our dedicated in-home caregivers can assist with meal prep, bathing and grooming, exercise, medication reminders, and many other important tasks.
3. Issues with Communication
Maintaining a normal vocabulary may become difficult for seniors who have Alzheimer’s, regardless of what stage they’re in. They may not be able to find the appropriate words, or they may call things by the wrong names.
To slow the progression of the disease, make communicating easier for your loved one. Encourage your parent to use electronic devices to communicate with or write notes and texts on his or her smartphone, where there’s a preinstalled dictionary. Being creative with communication keeps the brain active.
4. Misplacing Items
Although everyone misplaces things from time to time, retracing their steps and eventually remembering where the objects were placed will come back to people who aren’t experiencing cognitive decline. This isn’t the case with most seniors with Alzheimer’s.
If your loved one begins putting items in unusual places, such as leaving car keys in the refrigerator, this could be a warning sign of Alzheimer’s. To manage this symptom, develop a simple system for your loved one, such as designated areas for remote controls, key hooks for important keys, or drawers organized by colors.
5. Isolation
Social withdrawal is generally a sign of cognitive decline. If you notice your loved one becoming less involved in family functions, cutting back at work, lacking motivation, or watching television and sleeping in more than usual, he or she could be developing Alzheimer’s.
To slow the progression of the disease, encourage your loved one to stay socially active. Sign your parent up for groups with other seniors living with Alzheimer’s. You can also make more time to attend outings together so he or she isn’t afraid or embarrassed to go alone.
If your elderly loved one is living with Alzheimer’s and needs help managing the symptoms, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of Alzheimer’s care. Carmichael seniors can rely on our revolutionary Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), an activities-based program that promotes cognitive health and delays the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. CTM also encourages seniors to engage with others in an enjoyable way and helps them build new routines to look forward to. Call us today at (916) 485-4663 to schedule a free in-home consultation.