If you intervene, you're enabling this person to avoid medical care that could help them. For how long would you be willing to do this? Until they fall and lie on the floor for hours or days with a broken hip? Until they drive their car into a group of children waiting for a school bus?
You haven't told us much, but because you suspect dementia I assume that this person is showing cognitive decline. Please call Adult Protective Services or their relatives if they have some. Dementia isn't something you can slap a bandaid on. It is a serious illness, and the treatment isn't Do-It-Yourself. This person needs medical care! If you truly want to help, see that he/she gets it.
If you can't bring yourself to make sure they see a doctor, then stay out of it altogether, because maybe someone else will help to get them what they need.
What MACinCT responded is correct. There are many other medical/health issues that can include cognitive problems as a symptom: a UTI, dehydration, high blood pressure, thyroid problem, diabetes, brain tumor, over- or under-medication of prescription drugs, etc.
If this senior is not doing well in their home, no one should be inserting themselves to help as this actually delays the only sustainable solution: calling APS to intervene. If this senior doesn't have any family or a PoA, then APS *is* the solution for them and they need it sooner rather than later. If you help then APS will think things are better than they are. They need to see the actual state this person is in when left to their own devices.
Dementia is diagnosed by several types of cognitive tests and not all given in one day. There is s blood test for genetic comparisons, MRI and CT to differentiate and there is a PET scan available in certain locations. The PCP can screen but a good diagnosis will come from the geriatric specialists. If you were hoping for one test tells all, if something came up positive, you still have a resistant person who will not see a doctor. You might have to wait for a serious accident before you can ask for help. Sad.
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i.e. Had her draw say 10:15.
She would practice drawing a clock before her neurologist appointments.
You haven't told us much, but because you suspect dementia I assume that this person is showing cognitive decline. Please call Adult Protective Services or their relatives if they have some. Dementia isn't something you can slap a bandaid on. It is a serious illness, and the treatment isn't Do-It-Yourself. This person needs medical care! If you truly want to help, see that he/she gets it.
If you can't bring yourself to make sure they see a doctor, then stay out of it altogether, because maybe someone else will help to get them what they need.
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If this senior is not doing well in their home, no one should be inserting themselves to help as this actually delays the only sustainable solution: calling APS to intervene. If this senior doesn't have any family or a PoA, then APS *is* the solution for them and they need it sooner rather than later. If you help then APS will think things are better than they are. They need to see the actual state this person is in when left to their own devices.
Just keep reporting them to APS until they act.
If you were hoping for one test tells all, if something came up positive, you still have a resistant person who will not see a doctor. You might have to wait for a serious accident before you can ask for help. Sad.