Commitment + Clinical Leadership = Better Outcomes

8 Signs Your Loved One Has Dementia

8 Signs Your Loved One Has Dementia

Aug. 5th, 2021

Dementia occurs when a change happens in someone’s brain that causes them to experience memory loss, a decline in critical thinking skills, and trouble with communication. Dementia is caused by brain cell damage affecting different regions of the brain that control various aspects of our body. There are many different types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s, that affect thinking and behavior.

A person with dementia is unable to remember the people, places, and events in their life. They also struggle with completing daily tasks and might forget who they are over time.

There is currently no cure for dementia, and individuals who have it usually progressively get worse. While learning that your loved one has dementia can be difficult, the sooner you receive the diagnosis, the quicker you can find help for them.

If you’ve noticed some behavioral changes in your loved one, you might be wondering if they could have dementia. Here are 8 warning signs of someone who has dementia.

Memory Loss

Memory loss is one of the primary signs of dementia. However, it’s important to note that memory loss alone does not mean your loved one has dementia.

Memory loss can start out with something small, such as forgetting to pack a snack or neglecting to purchase a few items on a shopping list. As dementia progresses, the memory loss worsens and someone might forget places, past events, things, and general facts that they should know.

Usually, the memory loss of someone experiencing dementia will be noticed by a family member or friend, and there will be multiple instances.

If you notice your loved one is more forgetful than usual, then that might be a warning sign that they have dementia.

Confusion

Confusion is another sign of dementia. Your loved one might be unable to tell you where they are, or ask questions about what is happening around them, even if it’s obvious.

As a person with dementia’s memory declines, they will be confused when remembering the people they used to know. They will also be unable to recognize their loved one’s faces or may confuse one person for another.

Furthermore, confusion could also cause someone to misplace objects around the house. They might put their car keys into the soap dish or have trouble remembering where they left important paperwork.

If your loved one is mixing up the people, places, and things that they used to know, then they might have dementia.

Changes in Personality

Another sign your loved one might have dementia is a noticeable shift in personality.

Your loved one will begin to feel like an entirely different person because they will react differently to situations than they used to. They may also begin to lose motivation for their aspirations and become more passive about their passions and hobbies.

Those diagnosed with dementia are also more likely to act out if they become uncomfortable in their environment. Dementia makes someone unable to describe their feelings, and as a result they might become angry, sad, scared, or irritated.

According to the Weill Institute for Neurosciences, another reason for a shift in personality could be the result of a painful condition such as an infection. Someone with dementia is unable to describe their medical condition, and they can easily become angry or upset if they are unable to relieve their symptoms.1

Inability to Do Tasks

People with dementia are often unable to finish simple tasks that they used to be able to do before. They easily forget some or all of the steps on how to complete something depending on the severity of dementia.

For example, someone with dementia might forget an ingredient when they are cooking something. They may also be unable to do simple tasks such as organizing a bookshelf or folding laundry.

Those diagnosed with dementia are usually unable to complete tasks when asked. They might be incapable of placing things in the right spots or be unable to coordinate with another person to do a shared task, such as lifting up an object.

Difficulty Communicating

Those with dementia will often struggle to communicate their feelings to family and friends.

Sometimes, they will repeat a thought or phrase. Other times, they might say the wrong thing when they mean something else.

People with dementia will oftentimes lose their train of thought or stop midway through explaining something. They could also begin to describe objects rather than state their names.

Another sign of struggling to communicate is they might gesture or point instead of trying to talk. This is a way for someone with dementia to get your attention when they can’t find the words.

Struggling With Spatial Abilities

Another sign your loved one might have dementia is they will struggle with their spatial abilities. People with dementia will be unable to walk and see like they used to, and they might have trouble with hand-eye coordination.

Someone with dementia could also perceive objects as closer or further away. Some cases of dementia will have a person experience hallucinations and see things that aren’t actually in the room.

One reason why people with dementia struggle with their spatial abilities is because of the decline in memory. According to Larry Levine, the way the brain perceives objects is partly dependent on memory. However, as the brain changes, the neural connections that help someone perceive depth and perception are affected, which can cause someone to be unable to properly judge their surroundings.2

If the person you know is struggling to do simple tasks such as walk, go upstairs, or drive, then that could be a sign of dementia.

Inability to Plan

Someone with dementia will be unable to plan their day with a schedule in the way that they have before. They might forget to attend an event or travel somewhere at the wrong time.

As dementia progresses, your loved one could be incapable of planning their daily routine. They might skip meals or won’t remember when they need to take a certain medication. Your loved one might also be unable to remember the things that they did earlier, and will be unable to plan around what they already accomplished.

If your loved one is consistently confused about their previous or upcoming plans, then they might have dementia.

Impaired Judgement

A loved one who is struggling with dementia may also have noticeable changes in their judgement and how they respond to situations.

For example, they might be incapable of understanding the tone of a conversation. They might give inappropriate reactions, such as crying or anger, even when there is no reason for this.

Another sign of impaired judgement could be wearing summer clothes when it’s freezing outside. Your loved one will be unable to rationalize why they need to wear a winter coat, and might even be confused what time of year it is.

Saber Healthcare & Memory Care

Discovering that your loved one has dementia isn’t easy, and your family will have to adjust to the new changes. If you think someone in your life might have dementia, take them to a doctor and ask for a professional diagnosis and treatment. While dementia cannot be stopped, there are steps you can take to prevent it from getting worse.

Here at Saber Healthcare, we have a memory care program to help our residents and their families learn how to cope with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Our professionals will be able to provide your family the support you need to understand dementia and how your loved one will progress. Our person-centered approach can help your loved one live a happy, productive life as they adjust to their new medical condition.

Click Here to learn more about the memory care Saber Healthcare provides today.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.

Sources

  1. “Behavior and Personality Changes.” Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center. Accessed July 22nd, 2021. Link: https://memory.ucsf.edu/caregiving-support/behavior-personality-changes
  2. Levine, Larry. “5 Factors that Contribute to Visual-Spatial Issues in Seniors with Dementia.” Home Care Assistance. July 19th, 2019. Accessed July 22nd, 2021. Link: https://www.homecareassistancemassachusetts.com/what-are-the-reasons-for-visual-spatial-difficulty-related-to-dementia/