One of the most prominent conditions seniors can develop as they age dementia. Spotting the signs of dementia in yourself is difficult. It’s typically up to a senior’s friends and family to pick up on these signs and determine whether their loved one needs memory care for seniors.
If you believe your loved one requires memory care, call 214.227.7182 to speak to the experts at Buckner Retirement Services.
Looking Out for Dementia in Elderly Parents
Many people have a common question: “How do I know if my loved one is struggling with dementia?” Determining whether your elderly parent has dementia can be difficult at first. After all, everyone is capable of being forgetful or acting out of character every once in a while.
However, certain telltale signs of dementia may begin to appear in senior adults routinely. Instead of isolated incidents, look for patterns of behavior or frequent episodes of forgetfulness. Read on to learn more about some of the most common dementia symptoms for older adults.
Signs of Dementia in Your Loved One
Are you concerned that a senior adult in your life may have dementia? If your parent or loved one is exhibiting the following dementia symptoms, it may be time to seek care for their condition.
Recurrent Mood Swings
One of the most significant indicators of dementia is extreme, frequent fluctuations in mood and emotions. For example, if your mother has been very calm and mild-mannered throughout her life but begins acting out loudly and angrily, something is likely wrong.
Many people who have loved ones with dementia report that acting out of character was one of the earliest signs of dementia they noticed. It is worth remembering that this does not apply to an occasional mood swing or emotional outburst—this behavior is frequent and will happen more regularly as time goes on.
Forgetting Important Details
Another early indicator of dementia is forgetfulness. Forgetfullness doesn’t mean being absent-minded and forgetting to go to a doctor’s appointment or pick up something at the store. Senior adults with dementia will forget significant details about their lives, such as:
- Names of close friends or family members
- Important dates (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.)
- Their address or phone number
- The current day, month, or year
- Notable public information (e.g., the current president)
If you notice that your elderly parent struggles to remember important details, it is time to seek dementia care for seniors. This trouble with memory and recall will only worsen as time goes on, and it is essential to establish a care plan that can slow its progression.
Frequent Injuries
One of the more severe dementia symptoms that can often go overlooked is being injury-prone. Senior adults with dementia can have difficulty performing daily tasks or start doing certain things incorrectly, resulting in injuries they wouldn’t have otherwise incurred.
Your loved one may have burned their hand by grabbing a hot pan without gloves. They may have tripped and fallen because they forgot where a step was in their home. If you’re noticing that your loved one is showing up with frequent unusual injuries, it could be time to have their cognitive abilities evaluated.
Find Dementia Care for Seniors at Buckner Retirement Services
If you have concerns that your elderly parent or another senior adult in your life is developing dementia, it could be time to seek outside care.
Buckner Retirement Services provides therapy and resources to treat dementia in elderly parents. We’ll work directly with you and your loved one to develop a treatment plan that helps manage memory loss and, potentially, slow its progression. To find out more, call 214.227.7182 and speak to the professionals at Buckner Retirement Services.