Dementia Checklist
Dementia is a concern for ageing loved ones but there are plenty of tools and resources out there to help with early diagnosis. Let’s walk through our dementia checklist.
What is Dementia?
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, dementia describes a set of symptoms that over time can affect memory, problem-solving, language and behaviour. It significantly impacts our ability to carry out what we’ve come to think of as routine tasks, such as making tea or recognising familiar faces. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, although we do support individuals living with the following too:
- Vascular Dementia
- Dementia with Lewy bodies
- Frontotemporal Dementia
- Mixed Dementia
With each form of the disease, you may need to consider symptoms, causes and treatment plans.
Dementia: Why is early detection crucial?
Early detection of dementia is crucial for effective family planning as well as understanding and gaining access to specialised medical support one may need. Making informed decisions about long-term care, such as considering services like Dementia Home Care and Live-In Care, which Home Instead Sutton Coldfield provide, can be a source of comfort and peace of mind for family caregivers.
What are the 5 early signs?
Depending on the type of dementia, you may notice one or more of these early signs, with progression levels varied according to the type of disease.
Sign #1: Memory Loss
Memory loss is one of the most common signs of the condition and can be separated into two buckets: short-term memory loss and long-term memory loss. Short-term memory loss is when a person has trouble remembering recent events, conversations or details of things they have just done. Long-term memory loss is when a person has difficulty remembering things from the past, such as childhood memories or significant life events.
Sign #2: Familiar and easy tasks becoming more difficult
Routine tasks become more challenging for people living with dementia and it can be extremely frustrating for not only the individual but also their loved ones as the disease progresses, not least because loss of independence and a lower quality of life becomes more evident.
Sign #3: Language problems
Language problems can be a sign of dementia and should be monitored regularly. Common problems include struggling to follow a conversation effectively and repeating words/phrases.
As the disease worsens over time, language barriers can become more pronounced and can impinge on a person’s ability to communicate effectively.
Sign #4: Disorientation
Experiencing a sense of confusion and lack of direction is another sign of dementia. Dementia affects the brain’s ability to process information efficiently and, as a result, people living with dementia may find it difficult to find their way around certain places like their own homes or public domains.
Keep your eyes peeled for the following types of disorientation:
- Place disorientation – forgetting where you are
- Time disorientation – losing track of the day
- Person disorientation – forgetting the names of people
Sign #5: Changes in personality and behaviour
Look out for the following indications of changes to personality or behaviour:
- Becoming more impulsive
- Abnormal sleep patterns
- Less sociable
- More anxious and irritable
- Lack of motivation
Your next steps if you notice one or more signs
By using our dementia checklist, it will give you a clear pathway in understanding whether you or your loved ones are experiencing any signs of onset dementia. If the signs are evident and a diagnosis has been made, it’s essential you seek assistance for dementia care and home help. Home Instead Sutton Coldfield is a leading care provider in Sutton Coldfield and surrounding areas and are recognised as dementia specialists due to the knowledge and capability we possess to effectively and safely support individuals living with dementia in their own homes.
We also run two dementia cafes every week, in Erdington and Four Oaks, bringing like-minded people together so they have an opportunity to converse and engage in fun activities.
Please call us for guidance and support in setting up a care package that is tailored to an individual’s needs. We cover several social care options, including the provision of medication support, as well as Live-In Care and Palliative Care. Having conversations early on helps to plan for potential support in future and what that might look like. Again, we can assist with that.
