As your parents age, it is entirely normal to begin to find yourself worrying about them in much the same way that they did back when you were growing up.
Memory-based illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease and other common forms of dementia are a group of diseases that can be incredibly traumatic to deal with, both for the individual and their loving friends and family.
In an effort to help you tell the difference between a normal memory lapse and something that could possibly indicate an underlying issue with your beloved mom, here are four signs she could be showing the onset of dementia.
- A Lapse in Simple Problem Solving
Perhaps your mother has always been famous for cooking the world’s most delicious lasagna and could, in the past, practically prepare and cook the dish with her eyes closed, but now she appears to refer to the recipe book more frequently.
Of course, the older you get, the more information is stored in your brain, and some scientists even believe that this is the reason that most older adults are more forgetful when it comes to problem-solving than they used to be.
However, if you notice, while conversing, that even simple tasks seem to become foggy in your mom’s mind, then this could be a cause for concern.
- Problems with Speaking, Reading & Writing
Another warning sign is when your parent, who was once talkative and almost dominating in any conversation, begins to lose track of what they are saying, who they are speaking to, and even where they are while in the middle of a sentence. If your mom or any other close family member has recently been diagnosed with dementia, it is never too early to start preparing for the future to ensure the comfort and happiness of your loved one.
Look into the myriad benefits your mom could experience should she decide to relocate to a high-end and prominent group of care homes, like Morris Care, and, in particular, their cutting-edge dementia care facilities.
- A Significant Change in Personality & Mood
Mental health and well-being issues are as likely to afflict an older adult as they are a teenager, but there is a clear difference between a change in mood due to a traumatic event or an unexpected problem and an intrinsic change in personality.
Either way, whether you suspect your mom’s personality changes are due to feelings of low mood and depression or you are worried they are showing signs of dementia, it is essential to make sure they speak to their medical doctor as soon as possible.
- A New Misjudgment of Space & Images
If your cherished mom has begun to sit uncomfortably close to a stranger on the train or tends to lose their balance when sitting down, this could either be a simple case of a problem with their ears or a sign of a memory-based illness.
Often, individuals who are living with dementia experience sporadic or even consistent changes in their vision and spatial awareness, so this is certainly something to look out for.
