Tips to Catch Alzheimer’s in Seniors Early

A disease that seems to devastate so many families across the world is Alzheimer’s.  Alzheimer’s Disease is a form of Dementia that causes problems with a person’s memory, thinking, and behavior.  In fact, 1 in 10 seniors has Alzheimer’s, making it the most common form of Dementia among older adults.  Due to its prevalence, Alzheimer’s is something that people need to be educated on.  Below are a few tips to Catch Alzheimer’s in seniors early on.

Possible Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

There are many potential signs that your senior loved one might display if they have Alzheimer’s Disease.  To be diagnosed, seniors usually have to display two or more of the symptoms.  However, if your senior loved one displays any symptoms of Alzheimer’s, do not just ignore it.  Your senior loved one should see a doctor if any symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease display.  Here are some of the tips to catch Alzheimer’s in seniors early on.

Loss of Memory

One of the tips to catch Alzheimer’s in seniors early on is memory loss. The loss of the senior’s memory is due to the damage in the hippocampus region of the brain, which plays a very important role in cognitive memory.  It starts with the senior appearing to be more forgetful than usual.  Important dates or events will start to slip from the mind and questions will be repeated multiple times.  Seniors may begin to use post it notes and other memory aids to remember things that they have just learned.

Trouble with Planning and Problem Solving

Usually after memory loss can be seen, seniors may begin to have some issues with planning and solving problems.  They can have trouble dealing with numbers and planning ahead for future events.  Seniors may be experiencing lapses in judgement, which results in simple errors in tasks.  They also may have some trouble following cooking recipes or paying the monthly bills.  Concentrating on tasks could become very difficult for the senior to do. Familiar tasks that the senior often did may start becoming hard to remember how to do.

Times and Places Become Confusing

Seniors might also experience some confusion about times and places.  Anything that is not happening immediately will be hard to understand for seniors.  For example, dates, seasons, and the passage of time are all things these seniors will lose track of.  Additionally, they could forget where they are.  If they are not in their normal home environment, seniors with Alzheimer’ could forget where they are or how they got there.

Issues Comprehending Visual Information

Another way to spot Alzheimer’s Disease is that the senior might have some trouble understanding visual images.  The eyes become much weaker and have issues relaying information from the eyes to the brain.  Some issues caused by weakened vision are:

• Difficulty reading
• Judging distance,
• Determining colors and contrasts
• Driving problems

Difficulty Speaking and Writing

Alzheimer’s Disease will affect the senior’s ability to speak and write.  Conversations with your senior loved one could become more difficult because the affected senior will forget what they are saying or what has already been said.  The senior’s writing might also begin to decline.  Their spelling, punctuation, and grammar would become noticeably worse.  Also, their handwriting could possibly become increasingly more difficult to read.

Forget Where They Placed Things

Seniors demonstrating early signs of Alzheimer’s Disease will start to misplace items around their house regularly.  They might place their things in unusual places and could possibly forget which place they put the item.  They will forget where they left common items like the TV remote, documents, cash, and car keys.  The senior might start becoming more visibly frustrated and start blaming others for stealing their items that they actually misplaced.

Talk to a Medical Professional

If you or your senior loved one experiences any of these symptoms, call a medical professional.  They can direct you to the best possible route to take if Alzheimer’s is present.  There is no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, but there are many options that doctors can provide to help slow down the progression of this disease and make the symptoms easier to deal with, thus, improving the senior’s quality of life.

Visit At Home Senior Services

While there is no concrete cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, there are possible solutions to make the senior’s life easier.  Home care can be a solution that can help make home life much easier for any senior who is displaying early signs of Alzheimer’s.  Home care can give the senior in your life the ability to remain independent at home by having the assistance of a compassionate caregiver who helps perform daily activities of living, like dressing, bathing, meal preparation, and much more. Agencies like At Home Senior Services can help. At Home Senior Services is an in-home care agency dedicated to helping seniors age in place throughout the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Visit www.athomeseniorservices.com  or call 412-604-0410 to start the process of connecting with a caregiver.