As you are new to this and to this site, check out ‘Care Topics’ at the top right of the screen. When you click on it, you get an alphabet. Click on D for Dementia, and it takes you to literally hundreds of articles, old questions and answers, and discussions. You can do the same for the particular problems you are finding. It’s a great place to start learning just what you need to know. Good luck, Margaret
There are so many little things that many might be over looked. Forgetting appointments Getting lost Wearing inappropriate clothing Not changing clothing, or changing often. Not wanting to bathe or bathing more often than they used to OCD tendencies. Constantly brushing teeth, shaving, handwashing getting time of day mixed up. Getting words mixed up. Using the wrong words. Incontinence Changes in eating habits. Personality changes. anything from violence, language, anger, Anything that is different. Not being able to do something that they could do previously. The absolute best thing is to have an evaluation done by a Neuropsychologist or a Neurologist. Many of these could be indications of other problems. And there are so many forms of dementia that it can be difficult to pin down without an exam.
In my LO's cases, add on to those plus: - telling different siblings different info about the same story - evidence that she is "bumping" into things with the car; minor scratches and dents that they can't remember how it got there or blaming it on others; more than the normal amount a car should have. - looking into their checkbook register and seeing chaos or signs of confusion - unopened mail; bills not paid - prescription pills not being taken or the amt of pills in the bottle don't match what day of the month it is (not remembering to take the pills or taking too many) - food going to waste in their fridge - seeming not to remember how to use appliances they've used their whole life, like the stove or microwave; leaving burners on - uncharacteristic messiness or dirtiness of their home - seeming neglect of pet or overfeeding of pet - saying their wallet or purse was stolen (losing things)
What I did with my MIL (whom we suspected was having problems) is I volunteered to accompany her to a follow-up medical appointment she had. Once she checked in I passed a note to the nurse telling them who I was and outlining our concerns for her cognitive condition. I requested they test her for a UTI and give her a cognitive/memory test. I also requested they allow me to be in the room with her and sit behind her because she was not able to answer their questions accurately so I was nodding yes or no to the doctor. It turned out to confirm our suspicions and because of the diagnosis we had better guidance as to how to move forward with appropriate care.
Rather than list all the different symptoms and behaviors you may be confronted with in your caregiver journey, I suggest reading one of the following books. The 36 Hour Day Surviving Alzheimer's Learning to Speak Alzheimer's
They are all written for the caregiver, and not only discuss many dementia behaviors, but also how the caregiver can respond to these behaviors. All caregiver experiences are different so educate yourself on dementia and its diseases.
Although 2 of the books specifically mention AD, each book covers behaviors common to many dementia diseases.
Take your concerns to her primary care doctor. They can do some simple tests to start like the three minute cognitive test. It can reveal short term memory loss and decline. The other is drawing a clock at a desired time. My mom failed both years ago.
My mom and husband's aunt both have dementia at different levels.
Depending on your mother's age more testing may be suggested or seeing a neurologist. Medications now are touted to slow the decline of dementia.
Anxiety can definitely aggravate the situation.
A UTI can have an incredible effect on behavior and mood in the elderly.
Common early symptoms of dementia memory loss. difficulty concentrating. finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping. struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word. being confused about time and place. mood changes.
You might try keeping a journal. Date, time and place and a few words about what occurred. This could be helpful when visiting a doctor.
Always rule out a UTI with any sudden change in behavior as strangely a UTI can cause dementia like symptoms in the elderly.
Forgetting appointments
Getting lost
Wearing inappropriate clothing
Not changing clothing, or changing often.
Not wanting to bathe or bathing more often than they used to
OCD tendencies. Constantly brushing teeth, shaving, handwashing
getting time of day mixed up.
Getting words mixed up.
Using the wrong words.
Incontinence
Changes in eating habits.
Personality changes. anything from violence, language, anger, Anything that is different.
Not being able to do something that they could do previously.
The absolute best thing is to have an evaluation done by a Neuropsychologist or a Neurologist.
Many of these could be indications of other problems. And there are so many forms of dementia that it can be difficult to pin down without an exam.
- telling different siblings different info about the same story
- evidence that she is "bumping" into things with the car; minor scratches and dents that they can't remember how it got there or blaming it on others; more than the normal amount a car should have.
- looking into their checkbook register and seeing chaos or signs of confusion
- unopened mail; bills not paid
- prescription pills not being taken or the amt of pills in the bottle don't match what day of the month it is (not remembering to take the pills or taking too many)
- food going to waste in their fridge
- seeming not to remember how to use appliances they've used their whole life, like the stove or microwave; leaving burners on
- uncharacteristic messiness or dirtiness of their home
- seeming neglect of pet or overfeeding of pet
- saying their wallet or purse was stolen (losing things)
What I did with my MIL (whom we suspected was having problems) is I volunteered to accompany her to a follow-up medical appointment she had. Once she checked in I passed a note to the nurse telling them who I was and outlining our concerns for her cognitive condition. I requested they test her for a UTI and give her a cognitive/memory test. I also requested they allow me to be in the room with her and sit behind her because she was not able to answer their questions accurately so I was nodding yes or no to the doctor. It turned out to confirm our suspicions and because of the diagnosis we had better guidance as to how to move forward with appropriate care.
The 36 Hour Day
Surviving Alzheimer's
Learning to Speak Alzheimer's
They are all written for the caregiver, and not only discuss many dementia behaviors, but also how the caregiver can respond to these behaviors. All caregiver experiences are different so educate yourself on dementia and its diseases.
Although 2 of the books specifically mention AD, each book covers behaviors common to many dementia diseases.
It can reveal short term memory loss and decline. The other is drawing a clock at a desired time. My mom failed both years ago.
My mom and husband's aunt both have dementia at different levels.
Depending on your mother's age more testing may be suggested or seeing a neurologist. Medications now are touted to slow the decline of dementia.
Anxiety can definitely aggravate the situation.
A UTI can have an incredible effect on behavior and mood in the elderly.
memory loss.
difficulty concentrating.
finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping.
struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word.
being confused about time and place.
mood changes.
You might try keeping a journal. Date, time and place and a few words about what occurred. This could be helpful when visiting a doctor.
Always rule out a UTI with any sudden change in behavior as strangely a UTI can cause dementia like symptoms in the elderly.